The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body. It forms the core of the cardiovascular system and brings blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. The heart’s importance is highlighted by the fact that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of human mortality, both in the US and worldwide; every 33 seconds, an American dies of cardiovascular issues.
Despite this, most Americans pay little attention to their heart’s health, despite almost 90% of adults above 20 at risk of developing heart disease. Most young people think that heart disease is something that affects old people, but the risk of heart attacks for young adults has been increasing, where even young and previously thought healthy people suffer cardiac events due to undiagnosed conditions.
According to Paula Banahan, RN, CVNS, President, CEO, and Chairperson of the nonprofit Arizona Heart Foundation, all adults, regardless of age, can benefit from cardiovascular screening, as it provides valuable health information that guides individuals and their health providers to take preventative action and correct any unhealthy behaviors. To make this information more accessible to the general public, the foundation offers complimentary screenings to everyone aged 15 and above.
“Whether you’re a young adult and you need a baseline for what your heart health looks like, or you’re in your 40s or 50s and have never had any type of heart exam in your life, or you’re in your 70s or 80s – cardiovascular screening tests are meant for everyone,” Banahan says. “We have never encountered anyone who regretted having this exam done. Whether you learn that you have a normal heart echo or that you have a valve issue, knowledge is very powerful in keeping your heart healthy.”
She adds that getting the test done can also help participants learn whether any symptoms they’re feeling could be associated with cardiovascular disease. Many think that chest pain is the only relevant symptom while ignoring others, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, numbness, and swollen limbs. Furthermore, the test is especially important for people who are not aware of their family history of cardiovascular disease, often due to their grandparents dying early. Only upon investigation do they learn that one or both grandparents had died of heart failure or a stroke.
Aside from learning about their own health, participating in their complimentary cardiovascular screening allows people to contribute valuable data that supports the Arizona Heart Foundation’s various research and innovation initiatives. For anyone who has lost a loved one to heart conditions, this is a way to help prevent avoidable deaths due to mismanaged cardiovascular diseases.
The Arizona Heart Foundation, a women-led organization, exerts significant effort to educate women about cardiovascular diseases and how it affects them differently than men, with different symptoms and metrics. In addition to this is the tendency of women, especially mothers, to ignore any symptoms to avoid burdening their families. Banahan highlights how women are more at risk for certain types of cardiovascular disease. Due to their smaller heart and blood vessels, women are more prone to coronary microvascular disease which affects the smaller arteries of the heart. Women are also more susceptible to autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which are associated with cardiovascular disease.
“As a foundation that’s been around since 1971, we’ve always believed in education, research, and preventive medicine. It has always been our mission to make people aware of the state of their heart health, which is why we are offering complimentary cardiovascular exams for everyone. Since we began offering this complimentary service, there have been instances in which we’ve sent participants straight to the emergency room or have referred them to see a cardiologist right away. While these occurrences are rare, we are able to help patients find a physician immediately, thanks to the relationships the foundation has built for more than 50 years.”
Schedule a complimentary cardiovascular screening with the Arizona Heart Foundation today.
