Lee Butterfield, MD, FACCLee Butterfield, MD, FACC
Each year 1.5 million Americans suffer either a heart attack or a stroke. Each year 800,000 Americans die from cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death). To put that in perspective, over a two year time frame more Americans will die from cardiovascular disease (1.6 million) than the total number of Americans that were killed in every single was since the Civil War combined (1.3 million). It is vitally important that you know what your risk factors are and the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Risk factors include hypertension, diabetes (both types 1 and 2), obesity, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, family history, and inflammatory/autoimmune diseases (such as, but not limited to, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis). Also certain medications, especially those used to treat HIV, can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Signs and symptoms that you should be aware of are chest pain or discomfort (especially with exertion), neck pain, left arm pain, upper back pain, shortness of breath (especially with exertion), unexplained fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, pain or weakness in the leg muscles with exertion (common symptom with peripheral vascular disease). Also, unexplained headaches, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, unexplained weakness on one side of the body, and sudden difficulty speaking are often signs or risk factors for a stroke. There is an acronym for the timely treatment of a stroke called F.A.S.T. (face, arms, speech, and time). If you have risk factors and/or any of the above mentioned symptoms, you need to get in to see your health care provider soon. If you have the sudden onset of any of these symptoms, don't waste time, either see your health care provider immediately or go to the closest ER. Better to be safe than sorry.
