American Heart Association
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Heart Disease Resources for Patients
Cardiovascular diseases are the second-most common cause of death among Hispanic/Latino people. Many of these issues are preventable by addressing behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol use.
What is Heart Disease?
World Heart Federation
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
World Health Organization
Cardiovascular diseases
Mayo Clinic
Heart disease
WebMD
Understanding Heart Disease
Center for Disease Control
About Heart Disease
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Types of Heart Disease
MedlinePlus
Heart Diseases
Heart Disease Prevention
American Heart Association
Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Fight Inflammation to Help Prevent Heart Disease
Office on Women's Health
Steps for Heart Disease Prevention
Center for Disease Control
Prevent Heart Disease
MedlinePlus
How to Prevent Heart Disease
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Preventing Heart Disease
Cleveland Clinic
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Treatments for Heart Disease
Verywell Health
How Heart Disease Is Treated
Everyday Health
Treatment and Prevention of Heart Disease
Medical News Today
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Mayo Clinic
Heart disease
Heart Foundation
Heart treatments
Spanish- Language Resources
MedlinePlus
Cómo prevenir las enfermedades del corazón
Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists
Opciones para cocinar más saludable
American Heart Association
10 maneras de mejorar tu salud cardíaca
American Heart Association
Ingredientes esenciales para la preparación de comidas saludables para el corazón
What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is often used to refer to heart and blood vessel diseases, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis.
They include a variety of problems and conditions such as:
- Stroke: when blood supply to the brain is interrupted, usually from a blood clot
- Heart attack: when a blood clot cuts off blood flow to the heart
- Heart failure: when heart valves do not sufficiently pump blood
- Arrhythmia: abnormal heart rhythms1
According to the World Health Organization, heart disease is the number 1 cause of death globally. Many of these issues are preventable by addressing behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol use.2
Symptoms
Symptoms of heart disease vary by person, condition, and gender. Signs to look out for include:
- Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath
- Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
- Heart failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins3
Diagnosis and Treatment
In the hospital and during the first few weeks at home, the doctor may perform several tests and procedures. These tests help the doctor determine what caused the stroke or heart attack, and how much damage was done. Some tests monitor progress to see if treatment is working.
Depending on the condition causing heart disease, treatments may include:
- Heart Valve Problems: medications, heart valve surgery
- Arrhythmia: medications, pacemaker
- Heart Attack: medications — clotbusters, coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft surgery
- Stroke: medications — clotbusters , carotid endarterectomy1
Prevention
A healthy lifestyle can help manage blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, which will lower the risk of heart disease. Some healthy habits to prevent heart disease:
- Choosing healthy food and drinks
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Regular physical activity
- Not smoking4
