Heart Month was created by the Center for Disease Control to bring awareness to the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Heart disease isn’t just one disease, but several different diseases that all fall under this heading including: angina, myocardial infarction (heart attack), hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, venous thrombosis, and valvular heart disease. Heart disease is known as the “silent killer” and has no discrimination to who it effects.
Heart Disease Facts Heart Disease in the United States
About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year – that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
Coronary heart disease (CHD), the most common type of heart disease, kills over 370,000 people annually.
Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these individuals, 525,000 are first-time heart attack sufferers, and 210,000 happen in people who have already experienced a previous heart attack.
Early Action The chances of survival of a heart attack are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly.
Heart attacks have several major warning signs and symptoms:
Chest pain or discomfort.
Upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
Shortness of breath.
Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.
Celebrate Heart Month by taking care of your heart. Learn more about being heart healthy and what steps you can take to make sure you are protecting your most important asset – yourself!
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm Source: http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heartattack.htm