February is American Heart Month. SIU Medicine physicians care for a wide range of heart issues, and know that basic knowledge of heart concerns can help prevent certain symptoms from beginning. Check out these five important things to know about heart health.
Did you know that your heart beats more than 115,000 times per day? This incredible organ is responsible for pumping blood throughout your body and making sure your tissues and organs get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Understandably, problems with the heart can affect all aspects of your health and well-being.
Heart health matters. Your heart is a critical muscle that pumps blood to each part of your body, giving your body the oxygen and nourishment it needs. Problems that disrupt your heart’s routine need to be addressed by a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms like shortness of breath or a fluttering heartbeat might be caused by something called mitral valve regurgitation.
Employee health matters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that productivity losses due to absenteeism costs U.S. companies $225.8 billion each year. And, heart disease and stroke are among the most common and expensive health issues facing our nation today. Treatment for these problems amounts to $1 out of every $6 spent on health care in this country.
Stress is a normal part of life—whether it's a stressful day at work, a sick family member, a job change, a divorce or any other normal change in your life, things happen to make us feel overwhelmed.
It may not be possible to avoid stress, but at SIU Medicine, patients are encouraged to learn how to manage daily stress more effectively.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease kills more Americans than any other medical condition. In 2016, more people died from heart disease than from accidents, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia combined.
