- Nearly 801,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in 2013. That’s about one of every three deaths in America
- For people age 65 or older with diabetes, at least 68 percent die from some form of heart disease and 16% die of stroke
- Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than all forms of cancer combined
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing over 370,000 Americans a year
- Someone in the U.S. dies from heart disease about once every 84 seconds
- About 550,000 people in the U.S. have a first-time heart attack each year, and about 200,000 have recurrent heart attacks
To further complicate these sobering facts, not all heart problems come with clear warning signs!
Reason # 1 – Family history: Did your father or mother have a stroke? Did any of your grandparents have heart disease? These might seem like random questions, but knowing your family’s health history can help you avoid both heart disease and stroke
Reason # 2 – Chest / Heart pain: There are many causes of chest pain, and while many are not serious, it may be difficult to distinguish a heart attack, pulmonary embolus or aortic dissection, from another diagnosis that is not life-threatening. It is best to be safe by seeking medical care for the assessment of chest pain
Reason # 3 – High Cholesterol: Total cholesterol is the sum of good + bad cholesterol in your blood. Too much bad cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries resulting atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. The higher your total cholesterol, the greater your risk for heart disease
Reason # 4 – High blood pressure: Often referred to as a “silent killer”, high blood pressure or hypertension is defined as having too much tension on the walls of your blood vessels. Untreated hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke
Reason # 5 – Current or Past Smoker: – Smoking is a huge risk factor for heart disease by lowering the flow of oxygen to the heart and increasing blood pressure, heart rate as well as damaging the cells lining the arteries. Combined with a family history of heart disease, smoking greatly increases the risk
Reason # 6 – Diabetes: Diabetics have a higher-than-average risk of having a heart attack or stroke, even when glucose levels are under control, due to likelihood of also having high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity which all contribute to their risk for developing cardiovascular disease
Reason # 7 – Gum disease: While the connection isn’t conclusive yet, plenty of evidence points to dental disorders such as periodontal disease (disease of the gums and bones that support the teeth) and gum disease (also called gingivitis) having something to do with heart disease.
Reason # 8 – New exercise program: You are over the age of 40 and starting a new exercise program. You may already be working with a doctor on being more active, but a cardiologist can check your heart health and recommend exercises that would be good for your heart
Dr. Barone and Dr. Catania have 41+ years of combined experience in providing all aspects of adult cardiac care needs.
With strong compassion and commitment to excellence, Dr. Barone and Dr. Catania are here for you to deliver the highest standard of personalized cardiac care in prevention, detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Please, no more procrastinating. Your heart is the most important muscle of your body.
Please contact us at
