February is American Heart Month

PIH Health Expert Explains the Link Between Heart Disease and Stroke


Whittier, Calif., Feb. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In honor of American Heart Month, PIH Health Cardiologist, Sudhaker H. Nayak, MD, explains the link between heart disease and stroke.

According to the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, individuals with coronary heart disease, angina, or who have had a heart attack due to atherosclerosis (also called “hardening of the arteries”), have more than twice the risk of stroke than those who haven’t.

“If you have atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, you’re very likely to have atherosclerosis in other parts of your body,” says Nayak.

Coronary heart disease and stroke share many of the same risk factors such as high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, and being overweight or obese.

“On the other hand, leading a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, nutritious meals, no smoking, and control over high blood pressure and diabetes, will lower risks for both heart disease and stroke,” says Nayak.

For more information about heart disease, call PIH Health Cardiology at 562.789.5430.

 

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About PIH Health

PIH Health is a nonprofit, regional healthcare network that serves more than 2.1 million residents in the Los Angeles County, Orange County and San Gabriel Valley region. The fully integrated network is comprised of PIH Health Hospital - Whittier and PIH Health Hospital - Downey and features numerous outpatient medical offices, a multispecialty medical (physician) group, home healthcare services and hospice care, as well as heart, cancer, women’s health, urgent care and emergency services. Recognized by Truven Health Analytics and Hospitals and Health Networks as one of the nation’s top hospital systems for best practices, cutting-edge advancements, quality of care and healthcare technology, PIH Health invests millions each year in community education and free and low-cost services to support those with the greatest need. For more information, visit PIHHealth.org.

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