Facts

• The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body.
• The adult heart is about the size of two fists held side by side.
• The heart beats about 115,000 times a day.
• Heart disease is not just a man’s disease.
• A heart attack can happen to anyone.
• Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
• Half of all heart attacks come with no warning.
• Often the first symptoms of heart disease is a heart attack.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death of both men and women.
• More than 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day.
• One person in three suffers from cardiovascular disease.
• Heart disease progresses silently and painlessly.
• Much of heart disease is preventable if you know your risks.
• 90 percent of heart disease patients exhibit at least one risk factor.
• High levels of stress can increase the risk of heart disease.
• Maintain proper weight and physical condition.
• Exercise! Find something you enjoy doing and make it part of your life.
• Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet.
• Do not smoke.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Individuals with Type II diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease.
• High blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels can be silent killers.
• Decreasing cholesterol levels 10 percent may reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 30 percent.
• Sixty-six is the average age of a man experiencing a first heart attack.
• Time = muscle and quick action can improve one’s odds of survival.
• Each year more than five million Americans enter the hospital with chest pain.
• Indigestion is a warning sign of heart attack.
• Discomfort in the chest and upper body can be signs of a heart attack.
• Women are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea or back and jaw pain during a heart attack.
• During a heart attack every second counts – dial 911 fast.