Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women and for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including whites, African Americans, and Hispanics¹. For American Indians or Alaska Natives and Asians or Pacific Islanders, heart disease is second only to cancer. Approximately 610,000 Americans die of heart disease each year.

That’s one in every four deaths in this country from heart disease.¹

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which can cause a heart attack. Other kinds of heart disease may involve the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart problems that lead to heart attack.

Key Definitions

• Coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease that occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
• Plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits, which can accumulate in your arteries.
• Atherosclerosis is a condition that occurs when too much plaque builds up in your arteries, causing them to narrow.
• Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in the body. High levels in the blood can lead to heart disease and stroke.
• Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s use of insulin. Insulin tells the body to remove sugar from the blood. People with diabetes either don’t make enough insulin, can’t use their own insulin as well as they should, or both.
• Obesity is excess body fat.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

Anyone can develop heart disease (including children). Heart attacks occur when plaque builds up in the arteries, causing the arteries to narrow over time. This narrowing of the arteries reduces blood flow to the heart, eventually causing a heart attack. Cells in the heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygenated blood begin to die and the more time that passes without restored blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart. Symptoms of a heart attack vary depending on the type of heart disease. For many suffering a heart attack, the first sign is chest discomfort. Some heart attack sufferers may experience several symptoms. The National Heart Attack Alert Program notes these major signs of a heart attack:

• Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the body. Can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck, back, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath. Often comes along with chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest discomfort.
• Other symptoms. May include breaking out in a cold sweat, shortness of breath, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), weakness or light-headedness.

If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, you should call 911 immediately.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including:

• Diabetes
• Overweight and obesity
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol use

Preventing Heart Disease

By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar normal and lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack. A healthy lifestyle includes the following:

• Eating a healthy diet.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Getting enough physical activity.
• Not smoking or using other forms of tobacco.
• Limiting alcohol use.

Choosing healthy meal and snack options can help you avoid heart disease and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid or limit all processed foods.

Eating foods low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high cholesterol. Limiting sugar in your diet can lower you blood sugar level to prevent or help control diabetes.

Healthy Weight

Being overweight or obese increases your risk for heart disease. To determine if your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate your body mass index (BMI) by your height and weight. BMI can be an accurate reflection of a person’s body fat composition for some, but for others it can be an inaccurate measurement, because those with significant muscle mass may have a higher BMI calculation because of the density of muscle versus fat (so they will have a heavier weight even if their body fat is in a healthy range). Body composition analysis (total amount of body fat versus blood, muscle, bone, organs, etc.) is a much more accurate determination of obesity.

Physical Activity

Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels. For adults, the Surgeon General recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking or bicycling, every week. Children and adolescents should get 1 hour of physical activity every day.

Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.

Alcohol Consumption

Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can raise your blood pressure. Men should have no more than two drinks per day, and women should limit their alcohol intake to no more than one drink daily.

References

1. CDC, NCHS. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released 2015. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2013, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed Feb. 3, 2015.