Description

The Basics

Overview

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Take steps today to lower your risk of heart disease. 

To help prevent heart disease, you can: 

Eat healthy 

Get active 

Stay at a healthy weight 

Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke 

Control your cholesterol and blood pressure 

Drink alcohol only in moderation 

Manage stress 

Am I at risk for heart disease?

Anyone can get heart disease, but you’re at higher risk if you: 

Have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes 

Smoke 

Are overweight or have obesity  

Don't get enough physical activity 

Don't eat a healthy diet  

Your age and family history also affect your risk for heart disease. Your risk is higher if:  

You’re a woman over age 55 

You’re a man over age 45 

Your father or brother had heart disease before age 55 

Your mother or sister had heart disease before age 65 

But the good news is there's a lot you can do to prevent heart disease. 

What Is Heart Disease?

When people talk about heart disease, they’re usually talking about coronary heart disease (CHD). It’s also sometimes called coronary artery disease (CAD). This is the most common type of heart disease. 

When someone has CHD, the coronary arteries (tubes) that take blood to the heart are narrow or blocked. This happens when cholesterol and fatty material, called plaque, build up inside the arteries. 

Several things can lead to plaque building up inside your arteries, including:

Too much cholesterol in the blood 

High blood pressure 

Smoking 

Too much sugar in the blood because of diabetes

Signs of a Heart Attack

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. Part of the heart may die if the person doesn’t get help quickly. 

Some common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include: 

Pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest — or a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness 

Pain or discomfort in the upper body — like the arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper stomach (above the belly button) 

Shortness of breath or trouble breathing (while resting or being active) 

Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up 

Stomach ache or feeling like you have heartburn  

Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or unusually tired 

Breaking out in a cold sweat 

Don’t ignore changes in how you feel.

Symptoms of a heart attack often come on suddenly. But sometimes, they develop slowly — hours, days, or even weeks before a heart attack happens. 

Talk to your doctor if you feel unusually tired for several days, or if you develop any new health problems (like pain or trouble breathing). It's also important to talk to your doctor if existing health issues (like pain) are bothering you more than usual. 

If you’ve had a heart attack in the past, it’s important to know that symptoms of a new heart attack might be different from your last one — so talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about how you feel.