Treating you well since 1948 February is American Heart Health Month, and for good reason. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US (it is also a major cause of disability). According to the American Heart Association, 2,300 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of 1 death every 38 seconds. But what exactly is heart disease?
Heart disease is a broad term that covers all conditions heart-related that include diseased vessels, structural problems, and blood clots. A heart attack is what most people may think of first when they hear heart disease, but this is more of the end result after complications have resulted in restricting oxygen to the heart.
Some of the most common types of heart disease are but not limited to:
- High blood pressure – The force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.
- Cardiac arrest – Unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness.
- Arrhythmia – Improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast, or too slow.
- Stroke – Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply.
- Congenital heart disease – An abnormality in the heart that develops before birth.
- Congestive heart failure – A chronic condition in which the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
Heart disease is also something that is not limited to a sole type of person, anyone can be susceptible to its effects. The CDC lists heart disease as the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and whites. Diabetes and obesity being two of the biggest contributing risk factors for heart disease.
Here at Bond Clinic, we have a full team of dedicated staff that are always here to help.
Contact us today at 863-293-1191 to set up an appointment!
