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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – February is American Heart Month, and health experts are encouraging patients of all ages to pay attention to their heart.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the term can refer to many different types of cardiovascular issues. Dr. Lindsay Castle, who is an advanced heart failure cardiologist at OhioHealth, said the risk of heart disease increases as people age, but there are other risk factors for those who have high blood pressure, diabetes and those who are obese.
“Some of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease are through diet and exercise,” Castle said. “Learning how many calories a day you’re supposed to take in, focusing your diet on fruits and vegetables, lean protein and dairy in moderation.”
Castle said other ways you can prevent heart disease include cardiovascular exercise for 150 minutes a week, which is about 30 minutes a day, five times a week. On top of diet and exercise, Castle urged the importance of appointments with your health care provider.
“If you have a diagnosis of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, finding a physician that you can collaborate with to help manage those disease processes,” Castle said.
It’s never too early to start paying attention to your heart health. Castle said younger patients are also developing heart disease. The process of plaque building in the arteries eventually leads to strokes and heart attacks and that process can start as early as your 20s and 30s.
One of the most common heart diseases is cardiac artery disease, which, according to the CDC, is the main cause of a heart attack. Castle said some symptoms to look out for in a heart attack include chest pain, nausea, cold sweats, faintness or shortness of breath.
If you are having symptoms that are concerning, you are urged to seek medical attention immediately.
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