Answer: Heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 600,000 people die every year from heart disease – that's one in every four deaths. During the month of February, a new heart health story will be posted each week to boost awareness of this disease, its risk factors, symptoms to look out for and how it affects minorities.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease includes any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally, such as stroke, high blood pressure, angina, and rheumatic heart disease. It's easier to treat when it's detected early.

Risk Factors

Two risk factors for heart disease that you can't control are getting older and having a family history of heart disease. However, some risks such as smoking, eating a high-fat diet, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and having high blood pressure, can be controlled by making a few lifestyle changes.

Drexel Cardiology

Drexel Cardiology provides outstanding heart care and utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic and testing equipment, while adhering to the highest standards of patient care. Our cardiologists specialize in heart attack, heart disease, peripheral artery disease, irregular heartbeats, and advanced heart failure. Drexel Cardiology also offers comprehensive risk assessment to those who wish to prevent cardiac disease before symptoms arise.

For more information, please visit www.drexelmedicine.org or to make an appointment call 215-561-HEART (4327).