Advocate Trinity Hospital issued the following announcement on Nov. 8.
More than 17.9 million worldwide deaths each year are attributed to cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.
That’s about the population of Chile.
The most common form of heart disease, coronary heart disease, occurs when plaque buildup in the artery walls limit blood flow to the heart.
Dr. Anupama Shivaraju, a cardiologist with the Advocate Heart Institute at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., says heart disease risk factors include:
Male over 45, female over 55
Overweight/obese
Diabetes
Poor diet
Physically inactive
High cholesterol
Depression
Smoking/using tobacco
Family history
“One of the most important things I tell my patients is that women, diabetics and the elderly don’t present with the classic chest pain and pressure,” says Dr. Shivaraju. “Instead, they often notice a difference in their ability to do things. For instance, if they were typically completing a certain amount of chores at one point, they’re now finding they’re able to do less and less.”
So what can you do?
“Primary prevention is key,” says Dr. Shivaraju. “We need to watch what we eat and how active we are from an early age. Keep your health issues in check; if you’re prescribed medication for cholesterol, take it. It’s important to listen to your body – if you feel you’re able to do less than before, you need to see your physician.”
Original source can be found here.
Source: Advocate Trinity Hospital
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