Cardiovascular Disease
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a variety of diseases and
conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. The two most
common cardiovascular diseases are heart disease and stroke.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Maine.
About four out of every ten people in Maine die from CVD, which
adds up to over 4,500 people each year.
The burden on the health care system to treat CVD is large; there
are over 27,000 hospitalizations every year in Maine from CVD.
These hospital stays are expensive! Cardiovascular disease accounts
for about 25% of all Maine hospital costs. The good news is that
CVD is largely preventable, so this is a health crisis we can
solve.
The five diseases and conditions that the Maine Cardiovascular
Health Program (MCVHP) focuses on are heart attack, stroke, high
blood pressure (hypertension), pre-hypertension, and high blood
cholesterol.
Heart Attack
Coronary heart disease (CHD), which can often result in a heart
attack, is our nation’s number one killer. Nearly 1.2
million Americans will suffer from a heart attack this year,
and more than half of those will die. Typically, around 340,000
of those deaths occur in an emergency room, or before reaching
the hospital. That’s two-thirds of all deaths from CHD
– more than 930 Americans each day. Most of these deaths
are from sudden cardiac arrest.
The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a heart attack
that results in ventricular fibrillation, or a quivering of
the heart’s lower chambers. During a heart attack, the
flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or stopped, and
heart muscle is damaged and soon begins to die. The more time
that passes without treatment, the greater the damage. Some
heart attacks are sudden and intense – your typical “Hollywood
heart attack.” But most start slowly, with mild pain or
discomfort, and people having them often don’t realize
what’s happening and delay calling for help until it’s
too late.
You can prevent a heart attack by knowing your blood pressure
and cholesterol numbers and working with your health care provider
to control them. Changing your lifestyle to include healthier
behaviors can help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight,
and reduce your risk of heart disease. Choose foods that are
low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and get at
least 30 minutes of moderate
physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.
If you use tobacco products, there are many resources, including
the Maine
Tobacco HelpLine, to help you quit.
A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Learn the signs
and symptoms, and don’t hesitate! Call 911 or your local
emergency services number if you or someone you are with experiences
any of the warning signs, and they last for more than five minutes.
The American Heart Association says the warning signs of a heart
attack are:
- Chest discomfort: uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness,
or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a
few minutes, or goes away and comes back
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: this may be
felt in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Shortness of breath: may often occur with or before chest
discomfort
- Cold sweats
- Nausea
- Light-headedness
You may have one or several of these signs. Seek help immediately.
Stroke
On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds, and
someone loses their life to a stroke about every three minutes.
This adds up to about 700,000 Americans suffering from stroke
each year! Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the
United States, and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
A stroke, or a “brain attack,” occurs when the flow
of blood to the brain is somehow interrupted. This is due to
a blocked or burst blood vessel.
Transient
Ischemic Attacks, or TIAs, are “warning strokes”
that can happen before a major stroke, and should be taken very
seriously. They occur when blood flow through a brain artery
is blocked or reduced for a short time, resulting in temporary
symptoms that are similar to those of a full-fledged stroke.
A person who has a TIA is 9.5 times more likely to have a stroke.
You can prevent stroke by controlling high blood pressure,
reducing your blood cholesterol levels, preventing heart disease,
and stopping tobacco use. You should also recognize the signs
of TIA and tell your doctor about them right away.
Although stroke is a frightening event, there is help. There
are several medical treatments today that help stroke sufferers
to maintain their quality of life, but you must act quickly!
The American Stroke Association says the warning signs of a
stroke are:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially
on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or
coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
You may have one or several of these symptoms. Seek help immediately.
Learn to recognize the signs of stroke, because time lost is
brain lost. If you or someone you are with begins to have any
of these symptoms, call 911 right away.
To Review Stroke Education
Materials, click here.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease
and stroke. Over one-quarter of Maine adults report having been
told that their blood pressure is high. For blood pressure to
be considered high, the systolic (upper number) reading
is 140 mm Hg or higher and the diastolic (lower number)
reading is 90 mm Hg or higher. For people with diabetes, high
blood pressure is considered 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
Regular exercise and a diet low in sodium can prevent high
blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, a low-sodium
diet (such as the DASH
diet) and regular exercise can lower your blood pressure.
Your health care provider may also ask you to take medications
to lower
your blood pressure.
Pre-Hypertension
A person has pre-hypertension if he or she has a systolic blood
pressure of 130-139 or a diastolic blood pressure of 80-89.
People who have pre-hypertension are at risk of developing high
blood pressure that requires medication.
Those diagnosed with pre-hypertension can usually control their
blood pressure through improved nutrition and exercise.
High Blood Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a natural substance found in all living tissue,
but when too much of it builds up in your arteries, it can be
dangerous. About three-quarters of Maine adults report that
they had their cholesterol checked within the last five years.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet low in fat can prevent high blood cholesterol. If you already have high cholesterol,
a low-fat diet and regular exercise can lower your cholesterol.
Your health care provider may also ask you to take medications
to lower your cholesterol.
Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
While some risk factors are out of your control, such as family
history of CVD or your age, most CVD risk factors are controllable.
Risk factors are behaviors or conditions that increase your chances
of developing CVD.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of serious
illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. On average, tobacco
kills seven Maine people every day. One of these is a nonsmoker
who dies because of exposure to secondhand smoke.
If you do not smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, try
to stop. Need help quitting? Call the Maine Tobacco HelpLine
at 1-800-207-1230, or talk with your health care provider.
Physical Inactivity
Physical activity can control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol
levels, and help control and maintain weight. People who do
not get enough physical activity risk developing high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. More than one-half of
Maine adults are sedentary, not getting enough physical activity
for health benefits.
Take simple steps to get more exercise - take
a walk after dinner with your family or on your lunch break.
Reduce television time to two hours or less each day, and exercise
during the commercials of your favorite shows. Aim for 30-60
minutes of physical activity most days of the week, and remember
that it can be broken up throughout the day. The important thing
is to get moving!
Poor Nutrition
Children and adults should limit cholesterol, sodium, and fat,
particularly saturated fat, and increase fruits
and vegetables in their diets, which can reduce risks for CVD.
Three-quarters of Maine adults eat less than the recommended
amount of fruits and vegetables.
It’s easy to eat fruits and vegetables! If you aim to
have at least one fruit or vegetable at each meal you can easily
eat five servings in a day. Fresh, frozen, and canned fruits
and vegetables all have health benefits. Watch for saturated
fats in your diet. Saturated fat is found in many processed
foods. Check
the food label to limit the total amount of fat you eat
to 65 grams or less per day, of which no more than 20 grams
is saturated fat.
Overweight/Obesity
The combination of physical inactivity and poor nutrition has
led to an alarming increase in obesity in Maine. Overweight
and obese individuals are at higher risk for developing CVD
and its risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
In Maine, obesity and overweight rates have both risen 20% over
the past 10 years. Thirteen percent of Maine high school students
are overweight, and 15% are at risk for becoming overweight.
Today, over half (56.3%) of Maine adults are overweight or
obese.
A combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet that is
low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is
the best way to keep from getting overweight or obese. Be wary
of fad diets that restrict certain nutrients and portion sizes
that are too large.
Diabetes
If you have a family history of diabetes, your risk of heart
attack and stroke is dramatically increased. When you have diabetes,
controlling cholesterol and blood pressure are just as important
as keeping your blood glucose in check. CVD is the leading cause
of death among people with diabetes.
If you have diabetes, you can take steps to lower your risk
of heart attack or stroke by reducing your A1C to less than
7 percent, lowering your blood pressure to less than 130/80,
aiming for the following blood lipid numbers:
- LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl
- HDL above 40 mg/dl
- Triglycerides below 150 mg/dl
Ask your health care provider about taking aspirin. Finally,
if you smoke, get help
to quit.
Family History
If your father died before age 55 and/or your mother died
before age 65 from a heart attack or a stroke, you are at a
higher risk of developing CVD.
Inform your doctor of your family history of CVD and take action
to manage the risk factors that are within your control!
