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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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Prostate Cancer Awareness and Prevention
8/27/2024 • Posted by Alan J. Wieder, Medical Director

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, but it is often successfully treated when found early.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Each year in New York State, about 14,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, especially after age 65. African American men and men whose close relatives had prostate cancer are at an increased risk. There are no known risk factors for prostate cancer that are under our control. We can’t control our age, race, or family history.

Most prostate cancers grow slowly. Symptoms are infrequent but may include:

  • trouble passing urine

  • frequent urination

  • blood in the urine

  • pain or burning with urination

Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer may include bone pain. These symptoms may be caused by conditions other than cancer.

If caught early, the survival rate from prostate cancer is high. Common treatments for early prostate cancer include watchful waiting (close monitoring of the cancer to see if it grows or causes symptoms before starting treatment), surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

There are two common screening tests: a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

During a DRE, your primary care provider (PCP) places a finger into your rectum and checks for any abnormalities that may require further testing. This test may miss many early prostate cancers.

PSA is a chemical that is normally produced by your prostate and measured with a blood test. High levels of PSA can be due to prostate cancer. PSA levels may be normal even if you have prostate cancer. Or, your PSA level may be high due to non-cancer causes, which may lead to anxiety, and unnecessary tests and treatments.

Even if prostate cancer is caught early, it may be slow-growing and never cause a problem. Again, this may lead to anxiety and unnecessary tests and treatments. Talk with your PCP about whether screening for prostate cancer is right for you. Tell your PCP if you have any of the symptoms listed above.