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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack.
In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.
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American Heart Month is a time to battle cardiovascular disease and educate Americans on what we can do to live heart-healthy lives. Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
You are at higher risk of heart disease if you are:
- A woman age 55 or older
- A man age 45 or older
- Or a person with a family history of early heart disease
Heart disease can be prevented. To keep your heart healthy:
- Have Preventive Screenings, including Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, PAD, EKG and Echocardiogram
- Watch your weight.
- Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
- Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
- Get active and eat healthy.
- Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55.
- Manage stress.
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The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season. There are two types of flu vaccines:
- “Flu shots” — inactivated vaccines (containing killed virus) that are given with a needle. The regular seasonal flu shot is “intramuscular” which means it is injected into muscle (usually in the upper arm). It has been used for decades and is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.
Regular flu shots make up the bulk of the vaccine supply produced for the United States.
A hi-dose vaccine for people 65 and older which also is intramuscular. This vaccine was first made available during the 2010-2011 season.
An intradermal vaccine for people 18 to 64 years of age which is injected with a needle into the “dermis” or skin. This vaccine is being made available for the first time for the 2011-2012 season.
- The nasal–spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that is given as a nasal spray (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). The viruses in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause the flu. LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three influenza viruses that research suggests will be most common.
[ go to CDC site to learn more ] |
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An ultrasound of the carotid arteries allows physicians to visualize the amount of plaque lining the artery wall.
Our Doppler Ultrasound Exam also shows the speed of the blood flow through the artery leading to the brain. This is especially important when defining exactly how narrow, or occluded the artery may be due to the plaque.
The most common type of stroke happens to be ischemic stroke, lack of oxygen/blood to the brain, due to blocked carotid arteries.
The ultrasound of the carotid arteries is the ideal test in the attempt to prevent ischemic stroke.
Most of our screening participants screen yearly, others every other year.
Screening every year helps individuals monitor any changes and gives peace of mind.
Some participants that have high cholesterol or high blood pressure screen often because those health issues directly effect the artery walls.
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An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is a localized widening or weakening of the main blood vessel in the abdomen. This vessel feeds blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
When the abdominal aorta is weakened it can eventually begin to leak or burst with no prior signs or symptoms. Risk factors for AAA include: smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The most common cause of AAA is hardening of the arteries.
[ Read more about arterial disease ] |
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Peripheral Artery Disease is caused by blockage in the arteries that slows blood supply to the legs.The most common symptom of PAD is pain in the calves or thighs after walking just a short distance. Usually the pain dissipates after resting for a few minutes. PAD greatly increases the chances of heart attack or stroke. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes high blood pressure and high cholesterol..
[ Read more about PAD ]
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