Heart Disease: Know the Risk Factors and Prevention Steps
Here at OWL VFD, we love to teach and talk about prevention as much as we do our emergency services. Did you know that according to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? Every year, we lose more than 600,000 Americans to heart disease — which works out to be one in every four deaths.
“Heart disease” actually refers to several types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, which can result in heart attacks, disorders of the heart valves, and cases where the heart may not pump well and can cause heart failure. In cases of heart diseases, plaque builds up in the arteries of the heart, preventing it from working as efficiently as it could, meaning less blood can get through.
Know Your Risk Factors
Heart disease can affect anyone at any age, but there are certain habits that can increase your risk. Smoking, eating a poor diet and not being physically active all increase your risk. If you have certain other disorders, like diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, these can also increase your risk of heart disease.
Know Prevention Steps
Now you know the risk factors. How can you and your family work to prevent heart disease from occurring?
- Keep your weight down by following the actions below.
- Eat a healthy diet. Think about eating the rainbow — fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors each day. Stick to mostly lean meats and fish. Choose foods low in saturated fat and reduce your sodium intake.
- Exercise regularly. Try for three to five days a week for best results … or every day if you’re up to it!
- Say no to cigarettes. Put the butts out and let them stay out! There are no health benefits of smoking and plenty of risks. Commit to quitting
- See your doctor for regular checkups.
- If you’re diagnosed with other conditions which can contribute to your risk of heart disease, be sure to follow your doctor’s orders for treatment. For example, if you have high blood pressure, take prescribed medications daily and stick to a heart healthy diet.
Know What to Look For
How do you know if someone you love could be experiencing a heart attack? Commit these signs and symptoms to memory!
- Chest pain lasting more than a few minutes
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the back, neck or jaw
- Feeling weak, light-headed, nauseous or experiencing cold sweats
- Pain in arms or shoulder
Be safe and err on the side of caution. If you think you or someone you know might be having a heart attack, dial 9-1-1 right away!
We hope these tips can help you and your family take healthy steps toward heart disease prevention and help in the case of an emergency. We’re here to help. Follow us on Facebook for frequent health tips and to stay up to date on what’s going on at our department.
Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department (OWL VFD) is one of the largest and busiest volunteer fire departments in the United States, with almost 300 members. OWL VFD provides fire suppression, EMS care, and rescue services to 80,000 residents in our 27 square mile area through the operation of three fire stations. OWL volunteer Firefighters and EMT’s work the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift, five days a week, plus 24/7 holidays and weekends. For more information on OWL VFD, become a fan of our Facebook page.