Cardiovascular or heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
Cardiovascular or heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A report by the CDC found that heart disease killed 382,776 men and 314,186 women in 2020 in the U.S.
“It’s the number one killer in both men and women,” said Dr. Richard Stoebner, a cardiologist at Baylor Scott & White in Buda. “Women are not immune to developing heart disease.”
Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until a person experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure or arrhythmia, the CDC reported. When these events happen, symptoms may include the following:
• 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.
• Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).
• Heart failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins.
“When we use the term heart disease, it refers to more than just heart attacks. We are really talking about any sort of condition that affects the cardiovascular system, so that could be the heart or the brain for things like strokes and other conditions,” Stoebner said. “In that sense, heart disease is the same in men and women.”
Some of the key factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk of heart disease including diabetes, weight, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use.
Stoebner also explained some of the early signs to watch out for.
“The classic or textbook description of symptoms would be a heaviness or pressure or tightness in the chest. That would come along with physical activity or mental stress and it would be relieved with rest,” Stoebner said.
“While that is classic, I always tell patients that their body does not read the textbook.
It can be anything less obvious than that. It could pain in the neck, jaw or throat. Sometimes, it’s a discomfort in the stomach or upper abdomen, people may just think it’s heartburn.
Sometimes, it can even go to the back.”
“[People who are active] will notice sudden changes in how things feel. On a typical walk, where they normally have no trouble going up a hill, they start having trouble.
Those kinds of things are symptoms and it’s good to be aware of that and get checked out if you notice any changes,” Stoebner concluded.
Baylor Scott & White Health is hosting a virtual cardiology seminar from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb.
22. Attendees will hear from a panel of heart experts, including Dr.
Stoebner, about common conditions and how to care for the heart.
To register for the seminar, call 1-844-BSWDOCS (279-3627) or visit BSWHealth.com/ HealthSpeak. When registering online, select Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock as Sponsoring Location.
