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HomeMemberHelpful ToolsHealth ResourcesHeart Disease

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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More Heart Health News:


Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening
10/25/2022 • Posted by Dr. Sharon McLaughlin, Dr. Kathie Rones, Dr. Nicole Belanger-Reynolds

National-Breast-Cancer-Awareness-Month-2022-Fidelis-Care

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women. In the United States, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Although significant advancements in early detection and treatments have reduced the overall mortality rate, not all racial groups have benefitted equally. The incidence of late-stage diagnosis and overall mortality remains higher among certain minority groups, especially Black women.

 

What do we know

  • The mortality (death) rate which is the number of people who died of cancer per 100,000 people in a year is higher for Black people compared to white people. Taken age into consideration, the breast-cancer mortality is about 40% higher among Black women than among non-Hispanic women.
  • White women. For the same stage of breast cancer, Black women have a higher mortality.
  • Black women have shown to have a delay in treatment.
  • Black women are less likely to seek surgery compared to women of other racial groups. Mistrust of the medical community has been shown to influence how Black women manage their health.
  • The 5-year survival rate, which is the percentage of cancer patients who have not died from their cancer at 5 years after diagnosis, is higher for white women compared to Black women.
  • Low-income women have less access to early breast cancer screening and, therefore, a greater probability of late-stage diagnosis.

 

What are the factors that play a role in disparities?

  • Low income or worry about cost
  • Lack of access to care and transportation
  • Lack of knowledge of breast cancer risks and screening methods
  • Lack of childcare
  • Unable to miss work
  • Cultural and language differences
  • Lack of a recommendation to have a mammography
  • Longer periods of time in-between mammograms

 

What can help improve racial disparities

  • Insurance coverage. The screening prevalence, which is the percentage of people who have been screened for a certain kind of cancer, is higher for insured women compared to those who do not have insurance.
  • Offer to schedule cancer screenings
  • Reduce paperwork
  • Expand screening hours
  • Provide transportation
  • Provide translation services
  • Provide child care