While we usually focus on issues related to cancer on this blog, some health issues are so pervasive that they deserve time and consideration here, and cardiovascular disease is one of them.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, meaning it is more lethal than all forms of cancer put together. When you take into account other vascular diseases such as stroke, the fourth leading cause of death, cardiovascular disease is responsible for every 1 in 3 deaths each year. And yet an estimated 200,000 of these deaths, nearly a quarter, are preventable.
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease, heart disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiac arrest, heart attack – all of these terms can be confusing, especially when some are used interchangeably. We’ve broken down some of the major components of CVD here for you, as well as symptoms, risk factors, and how you can try to prevent an occurrence from happening in the first place.
Definitions
Heart disease: an umbrella term for several conditions such as coronary heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and others. Coronary heart disease is by far the most common.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD): often used interchangeably with heart disease, but it technically refers to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as stroke.
Atherosclerosis: the process in which plaque (cholesterol deposits) builds up in the arteries, narrowing the arteries and making it more difficult for blood to flow through. Over time, an area of plaque can rupture inside of the artery, which causes a blood clot and may result in a heart attack or stroke.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): the most common type of heart disease and number one cause of heart attacks. It is the result of atherosclerosis, which limits the amount of oxygen-rich blood flowing to the heart. Overtime it can weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): it is the same as CHD and used interchangeably.
Stroke: it occurs when oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain is blocked, killing brain cells. This is typically due to a blood clot (an ischemic stroke), but can also be the result of a bursting blood vessel (a hemorrhagic stroke), which is often caused by uncontrolled hypertension.
Heart Attack (aka Myocardial Infarction): it occurs when oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart is blocked by a blood clot, due to atherosclerosis, which causes part of the heart muscle to be damaged or die.
Cardiac Arrest: it occurs when there is an electrical malfunction leading to arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, which prohibits the heart from properly pumping out blood to the body. With a lack of oxygen-rich blood to vital organs, such as the brain, the organs start to shut down and can lead to sudden cardiac death. Most heart attacks do not cause cardiac arrest, yet most cardiac arrests are caused by heart attacks.
Symptoms
In all cases, if you experience or observe any of the signs or symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 immediately to get the fastest care possible. In the case of cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and get an AED or begin CPR until an AED arrives. And to help you recognize the signs of a stroke, remember that the symptoms appear suddenly and think “FAST”: Face, Arms, Speech, and Time to call 9-1-1.
|
Heart Attack |
Stroke |
Cardiac Arrest |
| Chest pain or discomfort: it can last for more than a few minutes or go away and come back. It’s often described as uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or fullness. | Face drooping:one side of the face may droop or feel numb.If you aren’t sure, ask the person to smile and see if one side droops more than the other. | Sudden loss of responsiveness: the person doesn’t respond to tapping on the shoulders |
| Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body:jaw, neck, back, stomach, or even arms | Arm weakness: one arm may feel weak or numb.If you aren’t sure, ask the person to raise both arms and see if one drifts down. | Abnormal breathing: the person does not take a normal breath when you tilt their head up and check for at least 5 seconds |
| Shortness of breath | Speech difficulties: speech may be slurred, strange, or the person may be unable to speak.If you aren’t sure, ask the person to repeat a simple phrase to see if they can repeat it correctly. | |
| Others: feeling weak, light-headed, or faint; nausea; cold sweats | Coordination problems: loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking, or dizziness. | |
| Head problems: sudden, severe and unexplained headache or vision problems in one or both eyes. |
Risk Factors
- Age
- Family history of heart disease and stroke
- Diabetes*
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Overweight/obesity
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Physical Inactivity
Unfortunately some of these are non-modifiable, but many are modifiable, meaning you can take charge and reduce your risk of CVD by making healthier changes in your lifestyle. Gender is often included as well, as men have a greater risk of heart disease than pre-menopausal women. However, once past menopause, the risk is more similar, as is the case with the risk of stroke between all men and women. *While type 1 diabetes is not a modifiable condition, type 2 is, and in both cases it is uncontrolled hyperglycemia, or high blood sugars, that increases cardiovascular risk, which is modifiable.
Prevention
Taking into account the major modifiable risk factors for CVD, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association came up with seven easy steps that people can take to improve their heart health: “Life’s Simple 7.”
You can learn why these seven steps are crucial for heart health and what you can do to reduce your risk by visiting the My Life Check website. You can also do a self-assessment to see how your current lifestyle matches up to the “Life’s Simple Seven” goals.
By making positive changes and reducing your risk of CVD, you’re also supporting a larger health initiative, Million Hearts, by helping them achieve the goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Similar to the self-assessment tool on My Life Check, the Million Hearts website has an online calculator tool to determine your 10-year risk of a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease. It will also tell you how small adjustments in specific risk factors can reduce your risk, as well as if you’re at risk for metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. And it will even help you make a plan to reduce your risk and track your heart health through the Heart360 tool, also available on the site.
Caryn Huneke is completing her dietetic internship and MS degree in Nutrition Education at Teachers College, Columbia University to become a Registered Dietitian.
Sources:
- Leading Causes of Death – FASTSTATS. CDC. Accessed on February 14, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm
- Preventable Deaths From Heart Disease & Stroke – Vital Signs. CDC. Accessed February 14, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/heartdisease-stroke/index.html
- February is American Heart Month. CDC. Accessed on February 13, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/
- Warning Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest. American Heart Association. Accessed on February 14, 2014. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/911-Warnings-Signs-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_305346_SubHomePage.jsp
- Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs. American Heart Association. Accessed February 14, 2014. https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/General/Heart-Attack-Stroke-and-Cardiac-Arrest-Signs_UCM_303977_SubHomePage.jsp
- My Life Check. American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Accessed February 14, 2014. http://mylifecheck.heart.org/Default.aspx?NavID=1&CultureCode=en-US
Susan started Savor Health after losing a close friend to a brain tumor and, through that experience, becoming aware of the significant unmet nutritional needs of people with cancer. Struck by the fact that her friend was told “nutrition doesn’t matter” and “eat whatever you want,” Susan read the evidence-based literature on the subject, interviewed oncologists, oncology nurses and oncology dietitians, as well as patients and caregivers, and found that, in fact, nutrition does matter in oncology. Armed with solid scientific evidence supporting the clinical and quality of life benefits of proper nutrition, Susan left Wall Street and created Savor Health, an AI-based provider of personalized and clinically appropriate nutrition solutions for cancer patients, their caregivers and health enterprises. Susan brings to Savor Health over 25 years of industry experience in healthcare and business as well as expertise in strategy, finance and management.
Marissa Buchan is a registered dietitian, with advanced practice certifications in Oncology Nutrition (CSO) and Clinical Research (CCRP). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Duke University, and Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. Marissa worked for 10 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in both the clinical research and nutrition departments. In addition to counseling patients before, during, and after cancer therapy, she spearheaded nutrition-research efforts for the bone marrow transplant service. She has co-authored over 20 articles and has a particular interest in the role of nutrition on the intestinal microbiota and its impact on patient outcomes. When Marissa’s not wearing her lab coat, she’s in her apron whipping up healthy and delicious recipes that you can find on her blog, Get Off Your Tush and Cook.
Dr. DeFrance has a unique background including clinical interventional cardiologist, chief medical officer, educator, outcomes researcher and entrepreneur. He has expertise in Lifestyle medicine in which he was board certified in 2020 and is highly interested in the prevention and reversal of chronic disease. Dr. DeFrance also has expertise in appropriate utilization of technology in medicine, healthcare economics, value-based metrics, and educational design and delivery. He worked as Chief Medical Officer for HealthHelp, one of the largest specialty benefit managers in the US, and led large teams of healthcare professionals in writing evidence based appropriate care guidelines and rule sets which improve the quality and safety of medicine for over 20 million people in the US while also creating sustained savings in healthcare. He has also designed clinical decision support systems that are currently in use helping to improve patient care.
Alyson is a registered nurse and is certified in oncology nursing (OCN) through the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). She also has her certification as an ONS Biotherapy and Chemotherapy Provider. Alyson studied nursing at Thomas Jefferson University where she obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Since starting her nursing career in 2004, Alyson has had a strong dedication and commitment to oncology patients. She has worked inpatient specializing in Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation. Alyson currently works in outpatient oncology at the North Shore-LIJ Monter Cancer Center. Alyson is part of the clinical team at Savor Health where she counsels patients on oncology and oncology nutrition issues and contributes to website and other Savor Health content.
Chelsey is a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Oncology nutrition (CSO). She completed her Dietetic Internship at Northwell Health, received her BS in Dietetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her MS in Nutrition at Stony Brook University’s School of Medicine. Chelsey works as an outpatient dietitian at Mount Sinai covering all of the downtown cancer services at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Philips Ambulatory Care Center. Chelsey works with patients and families before, during and after treatment to optimize their nutrition through dietary counseling and support. Chelsey has experience counseling clients with a variety of diagnoses including breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, head & neck cancer, and more. Chelsey also enjoys sharing nutrition knowledge with her peers by running a monthly Employee Wellness program that showcases healthy topics, recipes and food demos.
Michelle is a Registered Dietitian specializing in oncology. She works as a clinical dietitian at an ambulatory cancer center in New York City and is a consultant for Savor Health. She is passionate about educating oncology patients on the importance of nutrition during their fight against cancer and helping them to optimize their nutrition through all phases of treatment. Michelle received her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University.
Denise Sievering is a Registered Dietitian who is board certified in Oncology Nutrition as well as Nutrition Support. A fluent Spanish speaker, Denise joined the Savor Health team to support Spanish speaking cancer patients and to continue to expand the Platform’s nutritional strategies and recommendations in Spanish. Denise holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University, and completed her internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYP). Denise started her career as a registered dietitian at NYP-Columbia University Medical Center, primarily covering inpatient Oncology units. Denise also holds a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling from New York University, and incorporates her advanced training in motivational interviewing and empathic listening in her patient encounters, particularly those whose lives have been forever changed by a cancer diagnosis. A New Jersey native, Denise now resides in sunny San Diego, CA where she works as a part-time outpatient Oncology dietitian at Scripps Health-MD Anderson Cancer Center, and also works as an inpatient dietitian at Kaiser Permanente. In her spare time, Denise can be found at a mom-and-pop taco shop, one of the many local craft breweries, and exploring her new city of San Diego with her husband and her rescue pup, Ripley.
Karen is a Registered Dietitian, Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition and registered in New York as a Certified Dietitian Nutritionist. Fluent in Spanish, Karen joined the Savor Health team to support Spanish speaking cancer patients and to continue to expand the Platform’s nutritional strategies and recommendations in Spanish. Karen received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College and her Master of Science degree from Hunter College. She works as an outpatient oncology dietitian in New York. Karen often works with local community centers to host nutrition programs for cancer survivors and their families, leading classes on how to live healthier lifestyles throughout their continuum of care. The American Institute of Cancer Research selected to showcase one of her many programs at their conference in 2019. Karen has written for and lent commentary to various publications and truly enjoys teaching people how to eat better. She loves to cook and strongly feels that healthy food doesn’t have to taste bad.
Allie is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Specialist in Oncology (CSO). She joins Savor in 2023, bringing years of experience from the John Theurer Cancer Center in New Jersey, where she worked with patients with a variety of cancers. Her goal is to help people feel their best, both mentally and physically, when physical health challenges arise. She believes in the power of nutrition ever since the impact it made on her athletic career as a volleyball player during college. Allie graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Maryland-Baltimore County and has her Master’s degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin Stout. She enjoys travelling, enjoying different cuisines, cooking, and hiking and other outdoor activities with her family and dog.
Julia Penberg is a seasoned healthcare professional with more than 30 years of experience focusing on maximizing operational excellence, leading clinical program development and building strong cross-functional teams. Her previous roles include overseeing the performance of clinical managers and nurse practitioners across multiple markets within United Healthcare-Optum’s Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible special needs populations, payer outreach and program development at Mayo Clinic, ground level specialty hospital development and direct patient care as a family and dermatology nurse practitioner. Julia volunteered as an operating room nurse and nurse practitioner on several mission trips to Romania and was a support group leader for the Kansas City chapter of the International Myeloma Foundation. Her motivation throughout her career has been with wellness promotion, disease risk modification and ensuring the best patient experience across the health continuum. Ms. Penberg received an MBA from the University of Dallas; a MS in Nursing from the University of Kansas and a BS in Nursing from the University of Texas-Austin. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Rachel is a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (“CSO”). She joined NYP-Columbia as the outpatient oncology dietitian in 2020 after working at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for two years. Rachel completed her dietetic internship through Keene State College in 2017. She is pursuing an MS in Integrative Nutrition at Stony Brook University and has a BS in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech. Rachel provides nutrition counseling to all types of oncology patients and helps them understand the mental and physical benefits of nutrition as an ally in their fight against cancer. In her free time she enjoys slow meals with family and friends, Pilates, and tending to her fire escape garden.
Allie Werner is a Registered Dietitian at Fresenius Kidney Care where she provides medical nutrition therapy diet counseling to patients on Dialysis. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in nutrition from Indiana University and completed her Master’s Degree and dietetic internship at Loyola University Chicago. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, checking out the amazing food scene in downtown Chicago, and exercising on her Peloton bike.
Immersed in the tech world for a decade, I've coded, led teams, and honed my skills in architecture and design. As a tech enthusiast, I've seamlessly woven through full-stack projects, fusing my love for code with the art of leadership.
Mohit is a full-stack developer with expertise in Python and JavaScript, known for his efficient coding and ability to deliver scalable software solutions. His technical contributions are highlighted on GitHub and Stack Overflow, demonstrating his commitment to the tech community and problem-solving skills. With a solid educational foundation and a diverse project portfolio, Mohit excels at navigating complex challenges and is well-equipped to contribute to dynamic software projects.
Rayna McCann is a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher and yoga4cancer certified. She received her BS in Nutrition at Penn State University and her MS from Stony Brook University. For work, Rayna wears many hats in the world of nutrition and worked for years in clinical settings focusing on oncology nutrition. She is also an Adjunct Professor and passionate about inspiring the future of dietitians. Throughout her career, she has received awards recognizing her dedication to patient safety and her contributions to improving malnutrition awareness. In 2022, Rayna was proud to accept the ‘Dietitian of the Year’ award through the Long Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Rayna has co-authored abstracts for poster presentations within the American Institute for Cancer Research conference, as well as, the Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference Expo and subsequent publication. She has enjoyed authoring articles, including an article for The Cure magazine regarding Multiple Myeloma and nutrition. When Rayna is not participating in nutrition related activities, she is dedicated to dog rescue.
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