Ask a Doc: Let’s Get to the Heart of the Matter

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), someone dies of heart disease every 34 seconds – that’s nearly 2,500 people every day.

In honor of American Heart Month, Emily Haly, M.D., of the Boca Grande Health Clinic helps us understand heart disease and how to prevent it.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a broad term for various conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. The most common type is coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart. This can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attacks, and other complications. Other types of heart disease include heart failure, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and valvular heart disease.

What are the biggest risk factors?

Some risk factors, like age and genetics, are beyond our control. However, the biggest contributors to heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, lack of physical activity and an unhealthy diet. The good news is that many of these can be prevented with lifestyle changes.

Can heart disease be reversed?

While some damage from heart disease cannot be undone, making healthy lifestyle changes – like quitting smoking, exercising, eating well and managing stress – can significantly slow its progression and even improve heart function.

What’s the difference between a heart attack and a stroke?

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually due to plaque buildup in the arteries, depriving the heart of oxygen. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, causing brain damage.

Both are medical emergencies, but they affect different parts of the body. A heart attack damages the heart muscle, while a stroke impacts brain function. Stroke symptoms include sudden numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, vision loss, or difficulty walking.

How is heart health different in women?

Many believe cancer is the biggest threat to women’s health, but in reality, heart disease is the No. 1 killer, causing 1 in 3 deaths annually.

Women’s heart attack symptoms can be different from men’s. In addition to chest pain or discomfort, women may experience shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or pain in the back or jaw. Women are also more likely to dismiss their symptoms.

Emerging research also shows that heart disease increases the risk of dementia, particularly in women. Risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity can further elevate this risk.

Every time I go to the doctor, they take my blood pressure and tell me the numbers but I’m not sure what those numbers mean and if I should be worried. What is good blood pressure?

Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) damages the smaller sensitive arteries in your organs, especially in your heart, brain and kidneys. Left untreated, this vascular injury increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. It can also shorten life expectancy by up to five years. That’s why it’s so important to consistently monitor your blood pressure.

High blood pressure is now defined as a persistent reading of 130/80 mmHg or higher. (Previously, the threshold was 140/90 mmHg.) If you monitor your blood pressure at home, take readings at the same time each day for the most accurate results.

Are there any new advances in cardiology that you’re excited about?

Yes! Innovations in cardiology are making it easier to detect, monitor and treat heart disease. Here are some of the latest breakthroughs:

New Medications for Hypertension

Wearable & At-Home Monitoring Devices

While more testing is needed before we broadly recommend CardioMirror® and CLHolmes® to patients, these technologies highlight the future of personalized heart health monitoring.

Final thoughts

Heart disease is serious, but the good news is that it’s preventable. Making small but meaningful lifestyle changes can protect your heart and improve your overall well-being.

This Heart Month, take action: schedule a checkup, monitor your blood pressure and encourage loved ones to do the same. Know the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke and call 911 immediately if symptoms arise.

Download the Clinic’s Heart Health infographic.

About the Author

Emily Haly, M.D.

Dr. Emily Haly (pronounced hail-ee) joined the Clinic full time in November 2022. Board-certified in internal medicine, she received her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she also completed her internship and residency. She brings some two decades of medical experience to the […]