| Did You Know?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, has been the leading cause of death in St. Mary's County since 1983. CVD kills more residents that cancer, traffic crashes, and suicides combined, and the county CVD death rate exceeds the state average. Heart disease and stroke are, respectively, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States. They are the principal causes of CVD death and are also major causes of disability.
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
CVD refers to abnormalities of the blood vessels (arteries) or heart that result in heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney failure and sudden death. High blood pressure (hypertension) may contribute to blood vessel and heart abnormalities.
Identifying Individual Risk
An estimated one in four persons who die from cardiovascular-related diseases experience no advance symptoms. Such diseases are a direct consequence of cardiovascular abnormalities that can be detected by special tests, but which do not necessarily result in symptoms. Early detection of coronary artery disease can lead to preventive measures, motivating individuals at risk to adopt healthier lifestyles or medication when indicated, decreasing their risk of developing severe coronary disease. The risk of CVD increases as you age. You have a greater risk of heart disease if you are a man over age 45 or a woman over age 55. You also are at greater risk if you have a close family member who had heart disease at an early age.
Signs and Symptoms
Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies — every second counts. If you see or have any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast!
Heart Attack Warning Signs/Symptoms (call 911 immediately):
-Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
-Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
-Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
-Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Stroke Warning Signs/Symptoms (call 911 immediately):
-Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
-Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
-Sudden trouble seeing (blurry vision) in one or both eyes.
-Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
-Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Prevention is the Key!:
-Know your blood pressure and keep it under control.
-Exercise regularly.
-Don't smoke.
-Get tested for diabetes and if you have it, keep it under control.
-Know your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and keep them under control.
-Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
-Maintain a healthy weight.
For more information on the Prevention of CVD, visit the following web sites:
-St. Mary's County Health Department
http://www.smchd.org/smchdcardiovascdisprevent.htm
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/
-The American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053
-The American Stroke Association
http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030387
-The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/index.htm |
