February is National Heart Month, with a focus on identifying and preventing heart disease, the number one killer in the United States.

Audrey Erickson, Ancillary Services Manager at Dallas County Hospital, says 25% of deaths in America are caused by heart disease. She says there are several different types of heart disease, with the most common being coronary artery disease, but all of them can lead to a heart attack. “A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. Part of the heart may die if the person doesn’t get help quickly. There’s three vessels, and sometimes it’s just one vessel that’s involved, and that would be a mild heart attack. But sometimes all three of the main vessels that provide blood to the heart are blocked, and that’s a pretty urgent situation.”

Some of the common signs of a heart attack include: pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest; a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest; pain or discomfort in the upper body, including the arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or sometimes the upper stomach; shortness of breath and trouble breathing; feeling sick to your stomach, throwing up, and cold sweats; or sometimes even a strong heartburn feeling. To prevent heart attacks, Erickson says it’s important to monitor your cholesterol and blood pressure. Also a healthy diet and exercise can go a long way towards preventing heart disease. Finally, smokers are at a very high risk, so quitting or never starting to smoke is important to prevent heart attacks.

To learn more about National Heart Month, find the Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Erickson at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.