Know the Signs: Protect Your Heart with Expert Insight
Heart Disease: What You Need to Know to Stay Heart-Healthy
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, taking the lives of about 1 in 5 people ¹.
It can strike suddenly and without warning: every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack ¹. Heart disease can affect anyone, but the signs, risk factors, and outcomes may vary from person to person.
Knowing what to watch for can help you take steps to protect your heart and get the care you need before serious problems occur.
Heart Disease Quick Facts ²
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.
- Nearly half of Americans have at least one major risk factor: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoking ³.
- Heart disease doesn’t just affect older adults. 1 in 5 deaths from cardiovascular disease occur in people under 65 ¹.
- “Heart disease” includes several conditions, such as coronary artery disease and heart attack.
- High blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease. Nearly half of U.S. adults have it, but only 1 in 4 manage it well.
- Between 2019 and 2020, heart disease cost the U.S. over $250 billion in health care and lost productivity.
Symptoms ³
Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until a person experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. When these events happen, symptoms can happen during activity or rest and can include:
- Heart attack — Chest pain or discomfort; upper back or abdominal pain; pain in the neck, throat, or jaw; heartburn, nausea, or vomiting; extreme fatigue; dizziness; and shortness of breath.
- Arrhythmia — Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).
- Heart failure — Shortness of breath; fatigue; or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins.
Men’s Heart Health ⁴
Men tend to develop heart disease about 10 years earlier than women. One early warning sign is erectile dysfunction (ED), which is often a sign of blood flow problems and may appear years before heart symptoms.
ED means trouble keeping an erection long enough for sex, and it’s usually caused by a physical issue (not just aging). Because the arteries in the penis are smaller than those in the heart, damage often shows up there first.
Low testosterone, often seen with belly fat or metabolic issues, is also linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It’s one piece of a bigger picture of heart risk. If you notice changes in sexual function, it’s a good idea to get checked for heart health risks like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or obesity.
Stress is another major risk factor. Anger and anxiety can raise blood pressure and stress hormones, increasing your chances of a heart attack or stroke. Ongoing stress can damage your arteries and affect sleep, sex life, and relationships, all of which impact heart health. It’s important to take these signs seriously and talk to a doctor about your risk.
Women’s Heart Health ⁵
High blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, and it can lead to early death. It’s often missed in women, even though more than 45% have high blood pressure or take medicine for it. Unfortunately, fewer than 1 in 4 women have their condition under control.
Women also face unique heart risks related to pregnancy and reproductive health. These include having a first period before age 11, early menopause before age 40, or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome.
Complications during pregnancy—such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preterm birth, or delivering a very small or large baby—can also raise a woman’s risk for heart problems later in life. One serious condition, peripartum cardiomyopathy, affects the heart during or shortly after pregnancy.
1 in 8 pregnancies involves high blood pressure, and women with this issue are twice as likely to develop heart disease later on. These early warning signs are important. If you’ve experienced any of them, talk with your doctor to check your heart health.
Tips to Protect Your Heart
- Check your blood pressure regularly – high blood pressure has no symptoms but can lead to serious health problems.
- Get tested for diabetes – uncontrolled diabetes increases heart disease risk.
- Quit smoking – or don’t start if you don’t smoke.
- Check your cholesterol and triglycerides with your doctor.
- Be active – aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
- Eat healthy – limit unhealthy foods and manage your weight.
- Limit alcohol – no more than one drink a day; none if you’re pregnant.
- Reduce stress – find healthy ways to manage it.
Choose HNL Lab Medicine
Taking care of your heart starts with knowing your numbers. HNL Lab Tests Direct makes it easy to order cholesterol and diabetes tests online – no doctor’s visit needed.
To stay ahead of heart disease, talk to your healthcare provider about regular blood pressure checks and other preventive care. When it’s time for lab work, choose HNL Lab Medicine for fast, accurate results at a location near you.
For added convenience, HNL @Home brings lab testing to your door with a quick, affordable in-home visit. Don’t wait until you have symptoms. Take care of your heart today and discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.
REFERENCES
¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 24). Heart disease facts. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html.
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, December 30). American heart month communications toolkit. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/php/heart-month/index.html.
³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). About heart disease. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/index.html.
⁴ Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2025). Special heart risks for men. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/special-heart-risks-for-men.
⁵ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). About women and heart disease. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/women-and-heart-disease.html.