February is Heart Month

 What is Heart Disease?- Heart disease includes a collection of conditions such as  high blood pressure. High blood pressure is how hard blood pushes against the artery walls, which can contribute to atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque on the artery walls. If the vessel to the heart is completely blocked, the heart does not get enough oxygen and a heart attack happens. If the vessel is blocked that feeds the brain, the result is a stroke. The CDC states that 70% of all deaths in the US have cardiovascular disease as the primary contributing cause. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, with women accounting for 51% of the total deaths. Interestingly, if all forms of heart disease were eliminated, life expectancy would rise by 7 years.

• Pain in jaw, back or shoulder                                                      
• Sweating, usually a cold sweat                                                  
• Nausea, vomiting                                                                           
• Shortness of breath                                                                       
• Fatigue or light-headedness                                                          
• Indigestion            

• Not Smoking  
• Eating Right
• Increasing Physical Activity