The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body, responsible for pumping blood and delivering oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body.
February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of heart health and address a disease that remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
In the United States, 20.5 million adults have coronary heart disease and 6 to 7 million have heart failure. It is the leading cause of death in the U.S. since 1950. About 695,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year — that’s one in every five deaths.
Dr. Bryan White, an Adventist Health cardiologist practicing in Germantown and Silver Spring, said that maintaining a healthy heart is crucial for overall well-being and longevity.
The likelihood of developing heart disease increases as we get into our 50s and 60s and beyond, more so being a male than a female, and more so having a Hispanic and African heritage, he said.
“Diabetes plays a role in heart disease as does obesity, poor nutrition and physical inactivity,” Dr. White said.
Dr. White added that COVID-19 may be a risk factor for heart disease. “I don’t think the book has been fully written on COVID-19, but I think in the future that will be contributor.”
Diet is a source of energy but at the same time can injure the arteries, leading to plaque buildup and causing blockage. “We need certain proteins, cholesterol and fats to build cells and muscles, but excessive fats, saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol can directly traumatize the lines of our arteries,” he said. “Those can lead to weakened hearts and heart attacks.”
Dr. White advises to keep to a diet not rich in salt because it can lead to fluid retention and hypertension. “We also want to keep our carbohydrates well controlled and avoid added sugars if at all possible.”
Be mindful of stress in your life. “Elevated adrenaline levels throughout the day can lead to increased systolic blood pressure, risk for heart failure, kidney disease, stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmias.”
Sleep well, exercise, don’t smoke, and keep your total caloric intake down, Dr. White added.
The early warnings signs of heart disease can be difficult to ascertain. It takes as much as an 80 percent narrowing of the arteries to start having symptoms. “Unfortunately, having a sudden cardiac arrest attack is the first manifestation of the disease. Symptoms can be modest: chest pain, shortness of breath, a limited ability to do age-appropriate physical activity.”
One of the best ways to detect heart disease before the major narrowing of the arteries is to see your primary care doctor, he said. Get your preventative counseling and screening, which includes your pulse, weight and BMI, your family history, and risk factors such as smoking and diabetes.
“Ideally you want to get after early heart disease before the first warning sign becomes the last warning sign,” Dr. White said.
The good news is that medications for lowering cholesterol and treating diabetes are playing a prominent role. “Our ability to screen to determine risk has greatly improved over the last several years,” he said.
