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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 30

                     February is National Heart Health

              Awareness Month; Prevention & early

                    detection is the key to saving lives

            DR. TUSHAR B. PATEL

             Knowledge, Prevention, and
                Early Action Save Lives

                  ccording to the Centers for
                 Disease Control and Preven-
            Ation (CDC), heart disease re-
            mains the leading cause of death in
            the United States. February is ded-
            icated  to  raising  awareness  about
            heart disease, educating on dangers,
            recognizing warning signs, and taking
            steps toward better heart health.
                 Heart Disease by the
                       Numbers
            The impact of heart disease is staggering:
           •  Heart disease remains the leading
              cause of death in the U.S. in 2023.
              Cardiovascular diseases (including
              heart disease and stroke) account-
              ed for 919,032 deaths — a rate of
              about 1 death every 34 seconds.
              Heart disease by itself is the largest
              contributor within this category.
           •  Heart disease is still the #1 cause
              of death for both men and wom-
              en. While detailed sex breakdowns
              for 2023 aren’t always published in   lost productivity and indirect costs   factors for heart disease:  a week.
              summary tables, historically more   are higher).                 •  High blood pressure             4. Don’t smoke. If you do, quit as
              than half of heart disease deaths   Warning Signs of Heart       •  High LDL (bad) cholesterol        soon as possible. For help, visit
              occur in men.                               Disease              •  Smoking                           smokefree.gov or cdc.gov/tobacco.
           •  The most common form of heart       Early recognition and quick ac-  Other conditions and lifestyle factors   A Final Reminder
              disease,  coronary heart disease   tion can save lives. Many sudden   that increase risk include:       Prevention is the best approach
              (CHD),  caused  about  349,470   cardiac deaths occur outside hospi-  •  Diabetes                   to heart disease. It reduces long-
              deaths  in  2023  (down  from prior   tals, often because warning signs are   •  Overweight and obesity  term complications and helps you
              years).                                                          •  Poor diet
           •  Approximately 805,000 Americans   ignored or misunderstood.      •  Physical inactivity             live a healthier, more productive life.
                                                                                                                      If you or a loved one experi-
                                                  Common symptoms include:
              have a heart attack each year —   •  Chest pain or discomfort    •  Excessive alcohol use           ences chest pain, excessive sweat-
              with about 605,000 first-time heart   •  Pain  or  discomfort  in  the  arms,  Good News: Heart Disease Is   ing,  shortness  of  breath,  or  any
              attacks and 200,000 recurrent     back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach                                 suspected heart-related symptoms,
              heart attacks.                                                          Often Preventable
           •  Someone in the U.S. has a heart at-  •  Shortness of breath           The silver lining is that heart dis-  do  not  drive  to  the  hospital—call
                                             •  Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold
                                                                                                                  911 immediately. The sooner med-
              tack about every 40 seconds before   sweats                       ease risk can be significantly reduced.   ical care  begins,  the  better the
              you finish reading this article, and 1   Most people associate heart at-  Here are four effective ways to pro-  chances of survival  and recovery.
              in 5 heart attacks is silent (meaning   tacks only with chest pain, but know-  tect yourself and your loved ones:  This February, let’s commit to
              the person doesn’t recognize it at   ing all the symptoms—and calling 911   1. Consult your doctor regularly, fol-  heart health. What you’ve learned
              the time).                                                          low medical advice, and take pre-
           •  Heart disease remains extremely   immediately—is what truly saves lives.                                                                                     scribed medications as directed.  today could save a life—possibly
                                                                                                                  your own or someone you love.
                                              Remember:  Knowledge  is  power.
              costly: total cardiovascular dis-  Acting early matters.          2. Eat a heart-healthy diet—low in
              ease (including heart disease and                                   salt, total fat, saturated fat, and   Source: Centers for Disease Control
              stroke) cost the U.S. about $168   Risk Factors You Should          cholesterol, and rich in fresh fruits
              billion in 2022, including health-           Know                   and vegetables.                        and Prevention (CDC)
              care services and medications (and   About half of all Americans have   3. Exercise regularly, such as a brisk   Dr. Tushar B. Patel is President of
              broader cost estimates including   at least one of the three major risk   30-minute walk, at least five days   Health Camp of New Jersey

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