Critical Heart Health
Facts You Need to Know!

Taking care of your heart starts with understanding what heart disease is and how it can affect you. With almost half of adults in the U.S. living with a heart‑related condition, there’s real value in knowing the signs and making small changes that support long‑term health.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease happens when your heart can’t pump blood as well as it should. The tricky part is that symptoms aren’t always obvious — and sometimes there aren’t any until something more serious happens. But when symptoms do show up, they may look like:

• Chest pain
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Pressure or squeezing feeling in the shoulder, neck, jaw, throat, or back
• Nausea or vomiting

If you notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor. And if you ever feel like it might be an emergency, don’t wait — call 911 or head to the ER right away.

What health issues can heart disease cause?

You can prevent most heart disease-related conditions with the right lifestyle choices. However, if left untreated, heart disease can lead to serious health issues like heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest, or heart failure.

What can you do to keep your heart healthy?

Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Try:

• Not smoking
• Keeping a healthy weight
• Choosing whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean proteins
• Cutting back on foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, cholesterol, and added sugar
• Getting about 2.5 hours of exercise each week (30 minutes a day, five days a week)
• Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in healthy ranges
• Finding ways to relax and manage stress

Want to take a deeper dive?

You can learn more from the American Heart Association.

Scan the QR code now to visit heart.org.