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Heart Disease

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Call 911 right away if you have any of these symptoms:

Chest pain or discomfort
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shoulder, jaw, neck, back, or stomach
Shortness of breath
Feeling light-headed, queasy, or breaking out in a cold sweat

Even if you are not sure if it's a heart attack, have your symptoms checked out right away. Treatments for opening clogged arteries work best within the first hour after a heart attack starts. Fast action can save lives — and maybe your own.

In the United States, heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. Heart disease includes a number of conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which is the narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This happens slowly over time and is a major reason people have heart attacks.

A man's risk of heart disease begins to rise greatly as early as age 45. You can lower your risk of heart disease by taking these steps:

Don't smoke or use other tobacco products.

Lower high blood pressure, and keep it under control.

Lower high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and keep them under control.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Eat mostly fresh vegetables and fruits, whole-grain products, low-fat dairy products, and low-fat sources of protein, such as lean poultry, fish, and beans. Limit foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, salt, or added sugar. Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:

Aerobic activity that includes:
- 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or
- 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or
- A combination of moderate and vigorous activity
and
Muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of the week

Control diabetes, if you have it.

Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men ages 45 to 79 take aspirin to lower their risk of heart attack when the benefit outweighs the possible harm of gastrointestinal bleeding. Discuss your personal risk of both heart disease and gastrointestinal bleeding with your doctor. Together, decide whether taking aspirin is right for you.

Additional Resources

Publications

Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs — This website explains what to do if you think someone may be having a heart attack. Acting fast can save lives. This website also offers tips to reduce heart attack risk and reviews the tests used to find out if a person is having a heart attack.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/index.htm

Heart and Vascular Diseases — This website lists publications on cholesterol, heart attack, high blood pressure, and many other topics related to heart disease.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart

Live Healthier, Live Longer: Cholesterol Counts for Everyone — Visit this interactive page to find a how-to guide for lowering cholesterol and tips to prevent heart disease. This page also gives people with heart disease information on reducing the risk of heart attack.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/

Men and Heart Disease Fact Sheet — This fact sheet provides statistics about men and heart disease and explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's efforts to help people prevent or cope with heart disease.

http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/library/fs_men_heart.htm

Heart Attack Risk Assessment (Copyright © American Heart Association) — Find your personal risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease with this health risk awareness quiz. Included is a list of questions to ask your doctor.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3003499

Warning Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke, and Cardiac Arrest (Copyright © American Heart Association) — The American Heart Association encourages everyone to learn how to respond quickly to a heart emergency. This website reviews the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke and explains what actions to take to in a heart emergency.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated June 1, 2009.