Healthy Heart, Longer Life: What Cardiologists Want You to Know
In this article
How serious is heart disease?
"Heart disease is still the number one killer in the United States," says Robert Krasowski, MD, with Cone Health HeartCare at Asheboro. "Even worse, in North Carolina, one in four people will die because of heart disease."
The biggest contributors to heart disease risk include:
- Lack of exercise
- Poor diet
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
These lifestyle-related factors continue to drive heart disease rates across all age groups.
How can heart disease be prevented?
An estimated 80–90% of heart disease cases are preventable. Early detection, lifestyle changes, and appropriate treatment can dramatically reduce risk over time.
The American Heart Association now recommends cholesterol screening starting at age 30, instead of age 40. Research shows that cholesterol buildup can begin as early as your 20s, long before symptoms appear. Identifying risk earlier allows doctors to intervene sooner and prevent long-term damage.
Why are more young adults being prescribed heart medication?
In some cases, especially for people with a strong family history or inherited cholesterol disorders, medications can be the most effective way to prevent heart disease early.
Cholesterol screening may even begin in childhood for those with a known risk of early heart disease.
Will I need medication?
"Therapy" for high cholesterol does not always mean medication. Therapy often starts with lifestyle changes like improving diet and increasing physical activity.
When medications are needed, options include traditional statins as well as newer treatments—including injectable medications—that are highly effective at lowering cholesterol and preventing future heart problems.
Do fitness watches and health trackers actually work?
Wearable devices can be powerful motivational tools. They help track daily steps, exercise time, and heart rate, encouraging consistent physical activity. Many also detect irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation, which can reduce stroke risk when caught early.
While helpful, these devices cannot detect heart attacks, assess cholesterol levels, or fully diagnose high blood pressure. They should be used as supportive tools—not replacements for medical care.
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
Early treatment for stroke can save your brain and your life. Remember this acronym: B.E. F.A.S.T.
B = Balance is suddenly lost.
E = Eyes have a sudden change in vision.
F = Face suddenly droops or feels weak.
A = Arms or legs suddenly feel weak.
S = Speech suddenly sounds slurred or strange.
T = Time to call 911 to get help as soon as possible.
Call 911 immediately if you experience chest pressure, burning, tightness, or squeezing, especially if it spreads to the jaw, ear, or arm. Shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or heart palpitations are also red flags.
What are the warning signs of a heart attack?
Sometimes, only a doctor can identify a heart attack for certain, but if your answer to most of the following questions is yes, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get checked out immediately. Start by calling 911.
- Do you have discomfort in the middle of your chest?
- Do you have any feelings of fullness, burning, aching, tightness or similar symptoms within your chest?
- Do your chest discomfort symptoms come and go?
- Do your chest discomfort symptoms get worse with activity but then disappear when you rest?
- Are you reluctant to tell anyone about these symptoms?
- Are you reluctant to call 911 because you think your mild symptoms do not need immediate attention?
- Do you have any of these other associated symptoms, including discomfort in your chest and left arm or your jaw, clammy perspiration, shortness of breath, nausea and/or dizziness?
- If you carry nitroglycerin with you, does it seem to take away the discomfort within five minutes?
How Are Warning Signs Different in Women?
Only about 60 percent of women experience chest pain or discomfort with a heart attack. These are the symptoms women are more likely to experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden back, arm or jaw pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Lightheadedness
- Profuse sweating
- Unusual tiredness
Next Steps
Eat well, exercise regularly, and don’t ignore preventive care. Be selective about health information online and rely on reputable medical sources. Most importantly, see your care provider early—because early treatment leads to better outcomes.
Watch the full WFMY 2 Your Well-Being conversation with Robert Krasowski, MD, with Cone Health HeartCare at Asheboro below.
