Heart Health

Feb. 5, 2026 | This Saturday is Valentine’s Day, a day typically associated with big red hearts, flowers and big boxes of chocolate. It’s also a good time to talk about heart health. Heart disease is a general term that includes many types of heart problems. It’s a type of cardiovascular disease, which means heart and blood vessel disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. One person dies every 34 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease. There are many different types of heart disease. Some you may be born with, these are called congenital heart defects. Other types, like coronary artery disease, or CAD, develop during your lifetime. CAD is the most common type of heart disease. Over 18 million adults in the U.S. have coronary artery disease. That’s roughly the combined populations of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

Feb. 5, 2026 | Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is the most common type of heart disease. It happens slowly over time when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply your heart muscle with blood. The plaque narrows or blocks blood flow to the heart muscle and can lead to other heart problems. Consider this image. You have two traffic lanes that merge into one due to construction. Traffic keeps flowing, just more slowly. With CAD, you might not notice anything is wrong until the plaque triggers a blood clot. The blood clot is like a concrete barrier in the middle of the road. Traffic stops. Similarly, blood can’t reach your heart, and this causes a heart attack. Over time, CAD can also weaken the heart muscle and contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias. Heart failure means the heart can’t pump blood well to the rest of the body while arrhythmias are changes in the normal beating rhythm of the heart.

Feb. 5, 2026 | Love is in the air this week. With Valentine’s Day nearly upon us, while picking out a card or ordering flowers for that special someone, you may be wondering to yourself, how healthy is my heart? UAMS is currently offering Healthy Heart screenings, a fast, non-invasive way to detect the leading killer of men and women in this country, heart disease. The screening, for people between 40 and 75, includes a calcium score, a lipid panel, an electrocardiogram as well as a peripheral vascular assessment and a stroke risk assessment. Participants will also receive a kidney assessment, a nutritional consult and a consult with a cardiac nurse. A blood pressure evaluation is also included, with all results provided confidentially on the same day as the screening. Anyone wanting to make an appointment for a Healthy Heart screening can call 501-603-1222 or visit uams dot health slash healthyheart.

Feb. 5, 2026 | Many people have coronary artery disease without having any symptoms of the condition for a long time. Plaque buildup takes many years, even decades. But as your arteries narrow, you may notice mild symptoms. These symptoms mean your heart is pumping harder to deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body. You may feel squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness or pain in the chest. It may feel like somebody is standing on your chest. The chest pain usually affects the middle or left side of the chest. Activity or strong emotions can trigger a pain called angina. There are different types of angina. The type depends on the cause and whether rest or medicine makes symptoms better. In some people, especially women, the pain may be brief or sharp and felt in the neck, arm or back. You may also feel like you can’t catch your breath or, if your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs, you may feel unusually tired.

Feb. 5, 2026 | Treatment for coronary artery disease typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes, risk factor management and medications. In some instances, a procedure or surgery may be necessary. If you’ve been diagnosed with CAD, start by talking to your health-care professional to determine what the best treatment plan is for you. Lifestyle changes may include giving up smoking, vaping or the use of any tobacco products. You should also try eating heart-healthy foods that are low in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat and sugar. The Mediterranean diet is a proven way to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Try exercising 30 minutes a day five days a week, even if it’s just going for a walk around your neighborhood. A medical professional can offer guidance on lifestyle changes tailored to your needs. They may recommend smoking cessation options or meeting with a dietitian to discuss healthy eating plans.