Heart Disease: It’s Important to Know Your Risks
Memorial Hermann offers comprehensive care when it comes to treating heart disease.
Heart disease is a killer. It’s the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. More than 925,000 people died of cardiovascular disease in 2020, and, on average, someone dies of heart disease every 34 seconds in the United States.
February is American Heart Month and David Portugal, MD, shares some important information about the symptoms and risks of heart disease and what you can do to reduce your risk.
Q: What is heart disease?
Dr. Portugal: When we talk about heart disease, it really refers to a number of different heart conditions. The most common is coronary artery disease, which involves plaque buildup in the coronary arteries that restricts blood flow to the heart and can cause a heart attack. Heart disease is something that gets worse over time. Sometimes people might not even realize that they have heart disease until they begin experiencing chest discomfort, shortness of breath or a heart attack.
And while people often think of breast cancer as a bigger risk for women, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60 million women live with some form of heart disease, and in 2021 more than 300,000 women died from it. Pregnant women with high blood pressure and Black women are at particularly high risk of developing heart disease.
Q: What are some of the risk factors for heart disease?
Dr. Portugal: There are many risk factors when it comes to heart disease. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking are the top risk factors, with diabetes, obesity, a diet high in saturated fat and sugar, and a lack of physical activity not far behind. According to the CDC, more than 45% of Americans have at least one risk factor. If you experience any type of chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the feet and ankles, indigestion or heartburn on a regular basis, it’s best to see a cardiologist so they can help you map out a plan to combat the disease.
Q: What can people do to possibly prevent heart disease?
Dr. Portugal: If you are a smoker, I strongly suggest that you stop. Smoking damages blood vessels and lowers the level of oxygen in the blood, which makes your heart work harder. One year after you quit smoking, you cut your chances of developing heart disease in half! Also, it’s important to try and exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week. You don’t have to do this all at once. You can break it up during the day. Regular exercise will lower your blood pressure, reduce inflammation in the body, improve your blood sugar levels, lower stress levels and help you sleep better. In fact, regular exercise helps improve nearly every risk factor for heart disease. I also suggest eating a Mediterranean diet filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, poultry, fish, etc. Regular exercise and eating a healthy diet will help you maintain a healthy weight. Taking small steps every day can help you possibly avoid heart disease.
If a person has high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, it’s important to stay on top of and manage these conditions.
It’s recommended that women ages 55 to 65 and men ages 45 to 65 get cholesterol screenings every one to two years. People over 65 should get their cholesterol tested once a year. If you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes, you should begin yearly screenings at age 45.
Q: Is heart disease a treatable illness?
Dr. Portugal: Medical advances over the years have made heart disease a much easier disease to treat, and we are seeing more patients live full, productive lives after a heart attack or other cardiac episode. Advances in aggressive revascularization through minimally invasive surgery, medications and lifestyle changes can allow a person with heart disease to live a long, active life. I believe the sooner you implement the changes and take the precautions I mentioned above, the better off you will be.
Q: What sets Memorial Hermann apart from other institutions when it comes to treating heart disease?
Dr. Portugal: Memorial Hermann has a large footprint in the Greater Houston area and has been one of the leaders in cardiovascular care and surgery for a long time. Memorial Hermann’s affiliated cardiologists and heart surgeons encompass a leading program dedicated to advancing comprehensive cardiovascular care, where innovation and quality intersect and are guided by pioneering physicians committed to enhancing patients’ lives. Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular has invested in bringing together affiliated physicians who are innovators in their respective specialties, establishing a technologically advanced care model and infrastructure, educating the next generation of physicians, leveraging new technologies and conducting visionary research to find new and better ways of treating heart and vascular anomalies and conditions.