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Heart Disease Resources

People of all ages need to keep their heart healthy. Eating well, exercising regularly, and seeing your health care provider can help you keep your heart healthy. Work with your healthcare provider and adopt good lifestyle habits to help lower the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease describes conditions related to plaque building up in the walls of the arteries. Other conditions include arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), congenital heart failure, and heart valve problems.

What is your risk?

Heart disease can happen to anyone, including children. You can be born with it, and a family history of heart disease may increase your risk.

Most heart disease develops over time due to poor habits such as smoking or eating an unhealthy diet. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also increases your risk of heart disease. Talk with your provider about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors.

What is a good resting heart rate?

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Remember, factors such as age, physical activity, and overall health can affect what is considered your normal resting heart rate.

Talk to your provider if you have concerns about your heart rate.

How does high blood pressure affect heart health?

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Causes for high blood pressure include:

  • Diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Smoking
  • Not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Unhealthy diets, including high amounts of sodium and alcohol

Talk to your provider about how you can lower your blood pressure to help avoid heart disease and stroke.

How can you lower your risk of heart disease?
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, poultry, and fish; avoid having too much salt or sugar
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise at least 150 minutes per week
• Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at a healthy level
• Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations
Can heart disease be treated?
Yes. Talk to your provider about how to safely reduce the risk of heart disease. You can also talk about setting goals for a healthier heart. Your provider may also prescribe medication.
What are symptoms of a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Be aware of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the jaw, neck, arms, shoulder, or back

Call 911 if you or someone you know is having a heart attack.

What can cause Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood and meet your body's needs. The following factors may increase your risk of CHF:

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Poor diet
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Smoking and/or using tobacco
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Stress

Talk to your provider to learn more about CHF.

What can cause heart arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Factors that may cause arrhythmia include:

  • Blood sugar levels that are too low or too high
  • Caffeine, illegal drugs, and certain medications
  • Dehydration
  • Low levels of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, or calcium
  • Physical activity
  • Strong emotional stress or anxiety
  • Vomiting or coughing
  • Smoke
  • Use illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
  • Drink alcohol more often and more than is recommended (no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women)
  • Take certain antibiotics and over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines

Talk to your provider about how to prevent arrhythmias.

Here are some resources to help you prevent or manage heart disease:

 

Managing Blood Pressure Flyer

American Heart Association

 High Blood Pressure Resources Page (CDC)

Heart Health Articles and Videos (Healthwise)

 

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The Essential Screenings Every Woman Should Know About
5/14/2025 • Posted by Dr. Nichole Lewis, Emergency Medicine, and Dr. Nashat Latib, Emergency Medicine

Womens-Health-Month

Health often takes a backseat for women. Preventive screenings are an important way to stay healthy. Breast cancer caught at its earliest stage has a survival rate of over 99%. Hypertension can silently damage your body for years before revealing itself through a heart attack or stroke.

Understanding the screenings you need at different life stages gives you control over your well-being. It transfors healthcare from reactive to proactive. Based on the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are the essential screenings that should be part of your health journey.

Breast Cancer
CDC guidelines recommend mammography beginning at age 40. When breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 99%, reducing the need for aggressive treatments.

Cervical Cancer
For women 21-29, Pap smears are recommended every three years. After 30, guidelines suggest extending to every five years with HPV co-testing. Nearly all cervical cancers are HPV-related, making this one of the most preventable cancers when caught early.

Colorectal Cancer
Due to increasing rates in younger patients, screening should begin at 45. Options include colonoscopy every decade or annual stool-based testing, depending on individual circumstances.

Cardiovascular Health
Blood pressure should be checked at every healthcare visit starting in your 20s. Hypertension typically doesn’t show symptoms until damage has occurred.

Cholesterol screening typically begins at 45, unless risk factors suggest earlier testing. Many women underestimate heart disease risk, despite it being their leading cause of death.

Diabetes screening is recommended for women between 35-70 with elevated BMI. Early intervention prevents serious complications including vision loss, kidney failure, and cardiovascular events.

Bone Health
Bone density tests are recommended for women at 65 (earlier for those with risk factors like family history, early menopause, or steroid use). Early detection reduces the risk of preventable fractures.

Comprehensive Care Beyond Screenings
Additional health considerations may include thyroid testing for those with symptoms, mental health assessments, and immunizations. Recommendations should be tailored to each person's health profile.

Preventive Care: A Personalized Approach
Preventive screenings provide valuable information about your health status, often before symptoms appear. Research shows that early detection leads to better health outcomes across multiple conditions. These general guidelines serve as a starting point for discussions with healthcare providers, who can help determine which screenings are most appropriate based on individual health history, family background, and personal risk factors.

Many health insurance plans cover preventive services at no cost. Women may need different screening schedules based on their risk factors and past results. Healthcare visits are a chance to review screenings and plan follow-up care, aiming for a personalized prevention strategy that adapts to changing health needs over time.