Understand Your Heart: Risks, Prevention, and Care
Over seven million Americans aged 20 and older live with heart disease, and each year, 600,000 to 700,000 experience a stroke. Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for those over 65 in the U.S., includes heart and vascular conditions. Heart issues may involve structural problems—like faulty valves, muscles, or blood vessels—or electrical and circulatory disruptions. Vascular diseases, affecting arteries and veins, range from peripheral artery disease to blood clots. Remarkably, one in 20 Americans over 20 has some form of this condition.
Know Your Risks
Cardiovascular disease affects all demographics. Non-modifiable risks—factors we can’t change—include age, gender, race, ethnicity, family history, and genetics. Men face a higher prevalence (8%) than women (6%), and African Americans and South Asian Americans are at greater risk than other groups. Modifiable risks, however, offer hope. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, inactivity, obesity, and high cholesterol can be managed through lifestyle changes.
Chest Pain: Not Always the Heart
“There’s a lot happening between your neck and ribs,” says Bayhealth Cardiologist Vincent D. Abbrescia, DO, FACC. Chest pain might signal a heart attack, but it could also stem from ulcers, GERD, gallstones, panic attacks, or pneumonia, among others. Not every pain ties to cardiovascular issues, but don’t ignore it. Report symptoms to a doctor soon—within a day or two for milder cases, or immediately to the ER for severe ones.
Take Control of Your Heart Health
Treatment blends medication, education, and lifestyle shifts. “A lesser doctor treats disease after it’s set in,” Dr. Abbrescia explains. “A good one intervenes early. A great one prevents it.” Diagnosis starts with your history, an exam, or a risk assessment—your primary care provider’s role is key here. You can help prevent it by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, monitoring cholesterol, and managing diabetes through A1C control.
“Treatment is teamwork,” Dr. Abbrescia adds. Beyond doctors and patients, it involves imaging experts, dietitians, educators, social workers, navigators, and family. For a full picture of heart care, visit Bayhealth.org/HVI, where the Bayhealth Heart & Vascular Institute details its approach to prevention and treatment.
By understanding risks—both those we can and can’t change—and acting proactively, you give your heart its best shot. Chest pain demands attention, not assumptions, and a collaborative care team can guide you from prevention to recovery. Take charge today.
