Putting your heart health first

Did you know that February is National Heart Health Month? Although an estimated 80% of heart disease is preventable, it is the leading cause of death in Dallas County according to Parkland’s Community Health Needs Assessment. A range of conditions that affect the heart include:

Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease
Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
Heart problems you're born with (congenital heart defects)
Disease of the heart muscle
Heart valve disease

Heart disease symptoms vary based on the different kinds of disease. You should seek emergency medical care if you have any of these heart disease symptoms:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Fainting
Always call 911 or emergency medical help if you think you might be having a heart attack.

Heart disease is easier to treat when detected early. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened if you are worried about your heart health. You and your doctor can talk about how to reduce your heart disease risk. This is especially important if you have a family history of heart disease.