American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month.
How does heart disease affect men and women?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States: about 1 in every 4 male deaths and 1 in every 5 female deaths.
What are the symptoms of heart disease?
Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until the individual experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. When these events happen, symptoms may include
Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath.5
Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).5
Heart failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins.
Although some women have no symptoms, others may have:
Angina—usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache.
Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
Pain in the upper abdomen or back
Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.
Check out these resources for more information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm
American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/