Take the Heart Health Test

Heart disease is still the number cause of death in the U.S. Progress has been made but is slowing down. This is likely because more and more people have major risk factors for heart disease. These include obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

According to the AHA, more women die from heart disease than breast cancer. Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths every year. This is about one woman dying every minute.

The link between mind and body is getting clearer. Studies following Japanese earthquakes, for instance, found heart attacks caused more deaths than injuries during and just after tremors.

Doctors recommend that many older adults who have a history of a heart attack or stroke take a daily low-dose aspirin such as a "baby aspirin" or half of an adult aspirin. This is to help prevent blood clots in coronary arteries. For most adults with no history of heart attack or stroke, aspirin is no longer recommended to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Your healthcare provider may advise aspirin if you are age 40 to 70 and are at a higher risk for heart attack or stroke. But they would not advise aspirin if you are at increased risk of bleeding. Talk with your doctor before taking any aspirin. Doctors warn that daily aspirin isn't for everyone, especially people who take blood thinners, are likely to have digestive irritation, or are at risk of bleeding. Ask your doctor. Remember that aspirin and cholesterol-lowering medicine are no substitute for lifestyle changes. The most important ways to prevent heart disease and stroke is to live a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and no smoking.

The actual stress on the heart is fairly mild, but check with your doctor for guidance before you resume sexual activity after a heart attack.

Even with all the information available about risk factors such as age, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, diabetes, and family history, many people deny that these factors will affect their life.

If you have 1 risk factor, you should address it. But in most instances, multiple risk factors do the damage. Nonetheless, addressing only 1 or 2 of your risk factors - smoking and obesity, for example - can result in a dramatic improvement in your health and reduce your risk.

Many people avoid exercise in the belief that it will do no good unless they perspire heavily and gasp for breath. This is not true. Work on accumulating 40 minutes on average of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity 3 to 4 days a week.

Lives can be saved if people act sooner. If you suffer chest discomfort or shortness of breath, don't wait! Call 911 and get to the nearest emergency room. If you think someone is having a heart attack, call 911 instead of driving the person to the ER. Extra time increases the chances for death or permanent damage. Medicines that break up blood clots can be given quickly at a hospital. This can possibly save your life.