February is American Heart Month February is American Heart Month. Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of long-term disability and kills more Americans each year than any other disease. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you are with experiences any of these symptoms. Every minute is vital.
Treatment can be more effective if begun quickly.
Not all of the above warning signals occur in every attack. Our body uses cholesterol to produce certain hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids which help to digest fat. Only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood is needed to meet these needs. Too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the walls of the coronary arteries feeding the heart. Over time the coronary arteries will narrow and can produce signs and symptoms of heart disease.