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Heart Disease can be a Killer

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. In 2022, 702,880 people in the United States died from heart disease. Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and can affect women at any age. In 2021, heart disease was responsible for the deaths of 310,661 women. Every year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack. Heart disease cost about $252.2 billion from 2019 to 2020. High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. Diabetes, overweight and obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use also put people at a higher risk for heart disease. The symptoms of a heart attack are chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder, and feeling nauseous, faint, or weak. See the Figure below. If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately. Get regular physical activity to help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Eat healthy food, do not smoke, and take your heart medication as prescribed. Take care of your heart health. IPH has a Hypertension Control program with a home self-monitoring blood pressure device. If you are interested in controlling your blood pressure, enroll in the Hypertension Control program today by calling 313-309-9350 ext. 2.

High Blood Pressure is Preventable and Treatable

In 2021, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 691,095 deaths in the United States. Nearly half of adults (48.1%, 119.9 million) have high blood pressure, defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg or taking medication for high blood pressure. High blood pressure costs the United States about $131 billion each year. High blood pressure affects the body in many ways, including increased risk for heart disease and stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, vision loss, cognitive decline, and pregnancy-related complications. See the Figure below. High blood pressure during pregnancy increases the risk of preeclampsia, eclampsia, stroke, preterm delivery, placental abruption, and low birth weight. High blood pressure is preventable and treatable. Measuring your blood pressure is an important step toward keeping a healthy blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure. IPH has a Hypertension Control program with a home self-monitoring blood pressure device. If you are interested in controlling your blood pressure, enroll in the Hypertension Control program today by calling 313-309-9350 ext. 2. IPH is located at 9053 Woodward Ave, Detroit, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

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Let’s Be the Generation to End HIV. Get Tested and Stop the Stigma.