Matters of the heart

Even though it is the No. 1 killer in the United States, heart disease continues to be a subject surrounded by misconceptions.

Editorial. Feb. 25, 2008.

On the first day of this month it was hard not to see red. After all, each year Feb. 1 is National Wear Red Day, a rallying point in the fight against heart disease and the effort to raise awareness about it. Signified by the now well-known red dress, the event focuses attention on what used to be an overlooked topic -- heart health among women.

It also is the kickoff of American Heart Month, thereby encompassing themes beyond those that are age- or sex-specific to communicate and reiterate well-established risk factors and strategies for prevention.

Such messages offer a reminder for the medical community and a wake-up call for patients.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2008, a projected 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack, and 430,000 will have a recurrent one. This estimate translates into a coronary event about every 26 seconds and a death every minute.

One of the reasons behind these high numbers is the continuing lack of information. Many people don't grasp their risk. They also tend to imagine heart attack symptoms like those in the movies -- sudden and intense pain, often shooting up the arm and gripping the chest. But most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, and people often fail to realize what is happening and wait too long to get help.