STM Writer Muffinn
10
Heart Disease in America (Act on the warning signs before it’s too late)
The number of people who are not covered by health insurance in the United States is staggering. The number of people under the age of 45 who have suffered from massive heart attacks is also increasing. Statistics show, an average of 2,200 people die each day from heart disease. A large percentage of those fatalities occur because people either don’t recognize signs of heart failure, or because they simply ignore them.
What are the most common causes of heart failure?? Weight, smoking, diet, cholesterol, physical activities, high blood pressure, fasting glucose levels, and heart and blood vessel disease. Nearly 40% of Americans score in the ‘poor’ range in at least 3 of the above categories! (Notice that age is not one of the contributing factors). Half of children age 12-19 have at least 3 of the major risk factors listed above!
Now that you know the causes, it is important for you to become familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack:
Most heart attacks involve a pain that begins in the center of the chest. The pain can go away, or it can persist. It can feel like bottled pressure, squeezing or an intense pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, nausea, and intense sweats are also signs of a heart attack.
What is the difference between a heart attack and a stroke? A heart attack refers to damage to the heart’s muscles, usually from a lack of blood flow. Most of the time a blood clot forms in the arteries that supply the heart with blood, blocking the flow of blood, and the heart begins to die.
A stroke is a similar kind of blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. When a clot forms in one of those arteries blocking blood, a portion of the brain begins to die. Here are the symptoms of a stroke: Sudden numbness/weakness in the face, arm, or leg (usually on one side of the body), confusion (trouble speaking or being cognitive), loss of balance and coordination, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and severe headaches.
Regularly scheduled checkups are a requirement, not an option, if you plan on living a long and healthy life. Doctors are trained to look for the warning signs of heart disease and strokes that the average person will not see. A healthy diet, regular exercising (approved by your doctor) and avoiding stressful situations are just a few of the ways to reduce your risk of heart disease! Please, don’t wait until it’s too late! Everyone has something to live for!
categories! (Notice that age is not one of the contributing factors). Half of children age 12-19 have at least 3 of the major risk factors listed above!
Now that you know the causes, it is important for you to become familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack:
Most heart attacks involve a pain that begins in the center of the chest. The pain can go away, or it can persist. It can feel like bottled pressure, squeezing or an intense pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, nausea, and intense sweats are also signs of a heart attack.
What is the difference between a heart attack and a stroke? A heart attack refers to damage to the heart’s muscles, usually from a lack of blood flow. Most of the time a blood clot forms in the arteries that supply the heart with blood, blocking the flow of blood, and the heart begins to die.
A stroke is a similar kind of blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. When a clot forms in one of those arteries blocking blood, a portion of the brain begins to die. Here are the symptoms of a stroke: Sudden numbness/weakness in the face, arm, or leg (usually on one side of the body), confusion (trouble speaking or being cognitive), loss of balance and coordination, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and severe headaches.
Regularly scheduled checkups are a requirement, not an option, if you plan on living a long and healthy life. Doctors are trained to look for the warning signs of heart disease and strokes that the average person will not see. A healthy diet, regular exercising (approved by your doctor) and avoiding stressful situations are just a few of the ways to reduce your risk of heart disease! Please, don’t wait until it’s too late! Everyone has something to live for!
Photo by Zephyrance Lou