Physician Spotlight

Heart disease: know the symptoms, act fast, and reduce your risk.

The purpose of the heart is to pump the blood that bathes every organ of the body. The blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, and removes waste products from the tissues. If the pumping action of the heart is disrupted, the body’s organs begin to fail very quickly. Therefore, life itself is dependent on the efficient operation of the heart.

The heart has four chambers. The two ventricles (right and left) are muscular chambers that propel the blood out of the heart (the right ventricle to the lungs, and the left ventricle to all other organs). The two atria (right and left) hold the blood returning to the heart and, at just the right moment, empty into the right and left ventricles.

The four heart valves (tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral and aortic) keep the blood moving in the right direction through the heart.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. CHD is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, and often results in a heart attack. About 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year. About 460,000 of those heart attacks are fatal, with half of those deaths occurring within one hour of the start of symptoms and before the person reaches the hospital.

Many heart attacks start slowly, as a mild pain or discomfort. If you feel such a symptom, you may not be sure what’s wrong. It’s vital that everyone learn the warning signs of heart attack: chest discomfort, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, and other symptoms such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, you should still have it checked out. Fast action is your best weapon against a heart attack. Clot-busting drugs and artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks.


Reduce your risk of having a heart attack — or repeat attack — by following these steps:

• Stop Smoking
• Lower High Blood Pressure
• Reduce High Blood Cholesterol
• Aim for a Healthy Weight
• Be Physically Active Each Day
• Manage Diabetes