THE HEART OF A MAN
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and whites. For Asian American or Pacific Islander men, heart disease is second only to cancer. Half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease. The purpose of HeartSmarts The Heart of a Man is to focus on the specific health issues that men face as it relates to heart disease in a setting that is more comfortable for them. To sign up for this program, please click the link below:
Heart disease affects more than 1 in 3 men in the United States. In some cases, a person may have evident signs of heart disease that are easily recognizable. It is possible, however, to develop heart disease without experiencing any noticeable symptoms. Some risk factors are modifiable, while others are not. Read more about risk factors for heart disease in men:
In some cases, a heart attack or another severe heart-related event may be one of the earliest signs of heart disease that a man notices. However, there are often some earlier symptoms and signs that they can look for, which may help to prevent a heart attack, stroke, or other complications of heart disease. Read more about heart attack signs:
heart attack symptoms in men
Men and women share many of the same symptoms for heart disease and heart attacks.
However, men are more likely to experience the well-known heart attack symptoms such as:
- crushing chest pain
- squeezing, discomfort, or fullness in the chest
- pain in the arm, jaw, or back
- shortness of breath
- cold sweat
- nausea
Women are less likely to experience crushing chest pain. They have a higher chance of having the following symptoms instead:
- pain in the jaw, neck, or chest
- feeling faint or lightheaded
- squeezing on the upper back
- fullness, pressure, or squeezing in the center of the chest
As a result, women are more likely to ignore their cardiac symptoms as it is less obvious that they relate specifically to the heart.
Study: Black men more likely to die from their first heart attack
After earlier studies revealed that African-Americans are more likely to die younger, new studies suggest that black men are twice more likely to die from their first heart attack. Researchers found that black men between the ages of 45 and 64 were twice as likely to die of a first-time heart attack than white men.
HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO HEART DISEASE IN MEN
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
High LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels may be linked to an increased risk for heart disease. For many men, the risk of high cholesterol starts in their 20s and increases with age. While a family history can affect your cholesterol, other factors may include poor diet, low activity level and high body weight. Men over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels tested at least once a year.
DIABETES
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) estimates there are 13 million men over the age of 20 who have diabetes. Adults living with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease or stroke than adults without diabetes. If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, treating your diabetes or controlling your risk factors is the best way to prevent cardiovascular disease.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Having high blood pressure puts stress on a person’s heart, causing an increased risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. A higher percentage of men than women have high blood pressure before the age of 45. Men who have high blood pressure, in addition to being obese, a smoker or diabetic, have a significantly higher risk of developing coronary heart disease.