Awareness of the facts and statistics surrounding breast cancer in the United States is key in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

• “In 2025, an estimated 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S., as well as 59,080 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.¹
• 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.¹
• 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.¹
• There are currently over 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.¹
• An estimated 42,170 U.S. women will die from breast cancer in 2025.¹
• Risk of breast cancer recurrence depends on the type and staging of the initial breast cancer. Typically, the highest risk of recurrence is during the first few years after treatment and decreases over time.^2″

National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. (Breast Cancer Facts & Stats 2025 – Incidence, Age, Survival, & More)

Know the symptoms of breast cancer are:

CDC says this:

“Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all.

Some warning signs of breast cancer are—

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
• Pain in any area of the breast.”

Is there a link between birth control pills and breast cancer?

A number of older studies suggested that birth control pills slightly increased the risk of breast cancer, especially among younger women. In these studies, however, 10 years after discontinuing birth control pills women’s risk of breast cancer returned to the same level as that of women who never used oral contraceptives. Current evidence does not support an increase in breast cancer with birth control pills.

Be vigilant about breast cancer detection. If you notice any changes in your breasts, such as a new lump or skin changes, consult your doctor. Also, ask your doctor when to begin mammograms and other screenings.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor works to find out the specifics of your tumor. Using a tissue sample from your breast biopsy or using your tumor if you’ve already undergone surgery, your medical team determines your breast cancer type. This information helps your doctor decide which treatment options are most appropriate for you.  The biopsy helps what’s used to determine your breast cancer type.

Is your cancer invasive or noninvasive?

Whether your cancer is invasive or noninvasive helps your doctor determine whether your cancer may have spread beyond your breast, which treatments are more appropriate for you, and your risk of developing cancer in the same breast or your other breast.

• Noninvasive (in situ) breast cancer. In situ breast cancer refers to cancer in which the cells have remained within their place of origin — they haven’t spread to breast tissue around the duct or lobule. One type of noninvasive cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is considered a precancerous lesion. This means that if it were left in the body, DCIS could eventually develop into an invasive cancer. Another type of noninvasive cancer called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) isn’t considered precancerous because it won’t eventually evolve into invasive cancer. LCIS does, however, increase the risk of cancer in both breasts.
• Invasive breast cancer. Invasive (infiltrating) breast cancers spread outside the membrane that lines a duct or lobule, invading the surrounding tissues. The cancer cells can then travel to other parts of your body, such as the lymph nodes. If your breast cancer is stage I, II, III or IV, you have invasive breast cancer.

In what part of the breast did your cancer begin?

The type of tissue where your breast cancer arises determines how the cancer behaves and what treatments are most effective. Parts of the breast where cancer begins include:

• Milk ducts. Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. This type of cancer forms in the lining of a milk duct within your breast. The ducts carry breast milk from the lobules, where it’s made, to the nipple.
• Milk-producing lobules. Lobular carcinoma starts in the lobules of the breast, where breast milk is produced. The lobules are connected to the ducts, which carry breast milk to the nipple.
• Connective tissues. Rarely breast cancer can begin in the connective tissue that’s made up of muscles, fat and blood vessels. Cancer that begins in the connective tissue is called sarcoma. Examples of sarcomas that can occur in the breast include phyllodes tumor and angiosarcoma.

FYI a complication that can occur with advanced cancer that many of you may be unaware of; bone metastasis.

Bone metastasis occurs when cancer cells spread from their original site to a location in the bone. The most common types of cancer more likely to spread to bone include breast, prostate and lung cancers.

Bone metastasis can occur in any bone, but more commonly occurs in the pelvis and spine. Bone metastasis may be the first sign that you have cancer, or it may occur years after your cancer treatment is completed, ex. Hodgkins Disease.

Signs and symptoms of bone metastasis may include the following:

• Bone pain (back and pelvic pain are most common)
• Unexplained broken bones
• Loss of urine and/or bowel function
• Weakness in the legs
• High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea, vomiting and confusion

The most common problem with metastatic bone cancer is pain and fractures. Metastatic bone cancer usually can’t be cured, but instead the goal is to provide pain relief and control further spread. Treatment can make a big difference and may include the following:

• Medications to repair and build new bone — These medications are similar to those used by people with osteoporosis and can help in building and strengthening your bone.
• Chemotherapy — Given as a pill or through a vein, used to control and treat cancer that has spread to the bone.
• Traditional radiation therapy — Radiation is given as external beam therapy to treat the cancer in the bone.
• Hormone therapy — Medications are used to block hormones (for breast and prostate cancers) that help control the spread of cancer to the bone.
• Surgery — Used to fix a fracture and stabilize a break from the cancer in the bone.
• Cryoablation — A special technique that freezes the cancer cells.
• Radiofrequency ablation — A special technique that heats the cancer cells.
• Chemoradiation — A form of internal radiation that is given through the vein and travels to the site of bone metastasis and targets the cancer cells.
• Pain medications — Medications provided with the goal of relieving and controlling pain from bone metastasis.
• Physical therapy — Exercises may be prescribed to assist in strengthening muscles and providing any assistive devices that may help you (cane, walker, crutches, etc.).

If you’re living with metastatic bone cancer, you may find help and resources from a website called Bone Health in Focus. It was established with partners including BreastCancer.org, the National Lung Cancer Partnership and Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network to offer resources that help patients and caregivers understand more about cancer that has spread to the bone (find the site at www.bonehealthinfocus.com).

Mayo Clinic information on cancer that has spread to the bone can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bone-metastasis/basics/definition/con-20035450.

Are you living with cancer that has spread to the bone? Feel free to share your experiences with each other on the this blog striveforgoodhealth.com or on TheMayoclinic.org.

Make the changes in your lifestyles including diet if you want to prevent cancer, live long and have a productive life.

REFERENCE: Mayoclinic.org

Article reviewed 10/18/2022

“Breast cancer can happen when cells in your breast grow out of control. There are different types of breast cancer. The type depends on which cells in your breast turn into cancer.

Breast cancer can start in many parts of the breast. This includes the ducts, the lobules, or the tissue in between.

Most breast cancers affect people who were assigned female at birth. But breast cancer can also happen to people assigned male at birth. This is rare, but it does happen. See our guide to Male Breast Cancer.

Screening exams can help find breast cancer early. This is also called early detection, and it can save your life!”

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – MSKCC (Breast Cancer: Signs & Symptoms, Causes & Prevention, Anatomy & More | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

There are many types of breast cancer. The most common types are ductal carcinoma in situ, or invasive ductal carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma.

When a biopsy is done to find out the specific type of breast cancer, the pathologist will also check if the cancer has spread into the surrounding tissues. The following terms are used to describe the extent of the cancer:

• In situ breast cancers have not spread.
• Invasive or infiltrating cancers have  spread (invaded) into the surrounding breast tissue.

The type of breast cancer is determined by the specific cells in the breast that are affected. Most breast cancers are carcinomas. Carcinomas are tumors that start in the epithelial cells that line organs and tissues throughout the body. Sometimes, an even more specific term is used. For example, most breast cancers are a type of carcinoma called adenocarcinoma, which starts in cells that make up glands (glandular tissue). Breast adenocarcinomas start in the ducts (the milk ducts) or the lobules (milk-producing glands).

There are other, less common, types of breast cancers, too, such as sarcomas, phyllodes, Paget disease, and angiosarcomas which start in the cells of the muscle, fat, or connective tissue.

Sometimes a single breast tumor can be a combination of different types. And in some very rare types of breast cancer, the cancer cells may not form a lump or tumor at all.

Common types of breast cancer

The most common kinds of breast cancer are carcinomas and are named based on where they form and how far they have spread.

These general kinds of breast cancer below can be further described with the terms outlined above.

In situ cancers

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; also known as intraductal carcinoma) is a non-invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) may also be called lobular neoplasia. This breast change is not a cancer, though the name can be confusing. In LCIS, cells that look like cancer cells are growing in the lobules of the milk-producing glands of the breast, but they don’t grow through the wall of the lobules.

Invasive (infiltrating) breast cancer

Breast cancers that have spread into surrounding breast tissue are known as invasive breast cancer. There are many different kinds of invasive breast cancer, but the most common are called invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.

Less common types of breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer

This is an uncommon type of invasive breast cancer. It accounts for about 1% to 5% of all breast cancers.

Paget disease of the nipple

This starts in the breast ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipple and then to the areola(the dark circle around the nipple). It is rare, accounting for only about 1-3% of all cases of breast cancer.

Phyllodes tumor

Phyllodes tumors are rare breast tumors. They develop in the connective tissue (stroma) of the breast, in contrast to carcinomas, which develop in the ducts or lobules. Most are benign, but there are others that are malignant (cancer).

Angiosarcoma

Sarcomas of the breast are rare making up less than 1% of all breast cancers. Angiosarcoma starts in cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels. It can involve the breast tissue or the skin of the breast. Some may be related to prior radiation therapy in that area.

“In 2025, the United States continues to navigate complex public health challenges. From mental health to chronic disease, these issues affect millions of lives across the country. Understanding these top health concerns—and more importantly, how to respond to them—can empower individuals to take control of their well-being.

The top health concerns in 2025 are complex, but not unbeatable. Mental health, obesity, respiratory illnesses, healthcare access, and addiction require a mix of personal responsibility, community support, and public policy.

Taking small, consistent actions—such as prioritizing physical activity, reaching out for help, monitoring your environment, and staying informed—can make a real difference in your health outcomes. Whether you’re looking to improve your own wellness or help others, understanding these trends is the first step toward a healthier, more resilient future.”

Human Body Calculator (https://humanbodycalculator.com/blogs/top-5-health-concerns-americans-face-in-2025-and-how-to-overcome-them/)

1.CHRONIC DISEASES:

Without going into a book on this since I could and not just one; According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) It’s estimated that 6 out of 10 Americans suffer from a chronic disease, and 4 of those 10 suffer from two or more. These diseases include: Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Stroke, Heart Disease, Cancer, Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic Lung Disease.

  KEEPING IN MIND:

The people listed above have risk factors Heredity non=preventable risk, & preventable risk factors (what they can change) is changing to healthy diet, increasing exercise & changing life style.  If these changes are done highly likely the disease will get better to become extinct.  Continue to live the life style you are living and expect to stay right where you are or get worse to death; its simple to reverse its just disciplining your self in changes and the desire to want to do it.  I have been there and gone backwards but haven’t yet developed any of these diagnosis’s staying fairly healthy!  It’s up to you!

2.ETOH Substance Addiction and Abuse:

The opioid epidemic has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in recent years. Both prescription drugs and illegal street drugs have contributed to these losses.

In addition to opioids, alcoholism continues to be a problem. According to a study by the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, 8 out of 10 Americans suffer from alcoholism. Genetic factors coupled with high stress levels and socio-economic challenges are believed to contribute to these high numbers.

There are several national and local programs in place to help those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs or even both, including some that are free of charge.

3. Mental Health Issues

The second leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 10 and 34, suicide is on the rise and claims a life approximately every 12 minutes. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also reports that 25 million Americans currently suffer from depression. With that and other mood disorders, such as anxiety, on the rise, it’s never been more important to recognize the signs of poor mental health and seek diagnosis and treatment.

4-Lack of Vaccinations:

One of the reasons in general that certain diseases or illnesses could have been lower in counts including deaths if more vaccines were taken.  Many don’t take it because they just don’t get it.  The vaccine develops in all cases antibodies in the body against the antigen of the disease you are trying to prevent to get (Ex. Flu, etc…) and yes their is a slim chance of getting ill but in most all cases pt’s don’t get the disease or illness.  Wouldn’t it be better in a country and world where there is less disease and illness.

A recent report notes that 92% of HPV-caused cancers could have been prevented with a vaccine, yet just above half of the population of American teens have received it. In addition 2/3 of pregnant women have not received the two recommended vaccines for those expecting a baby. This causes unnecessary risk to both the mother and child.

Furthermore, in 2019, over 8,000 Americans died of influenza, which in most cases is preventable with an inexpensive (or even free), widely accessible flu shot.

History repeats itself obviously or we wouldn’t have statistics of HPV that is so high with how to prevent it just with a vaccine since 92% of HPV could have prevented cancers if the individual took the vaccine and than we have the flu that if most cases took the vaccine the 8000 deaths could have been lower.  Learn from this in taking COVID-19 vaccine since we still need an amount in the USA to take it and other areas as well.

5. Violence

Nearly 20,000 Americans lost their lives as a result of homicide in 2017, and those numbers are unfortunately not in rapid decline. Crime prevention, access to weapons, identifying real threats and addressing mental health issues can all help reduce these grim statistics of injury and death, in addition to building awareness surrounding safer lifestyle choices.  The CDC states in the United States, more than seven people per hour die a violent death. More than 18,800 people were victims of homicide and over 48,000 people died by suicide in 2018 alone.

“Chronic conditions are costly and major causes of death and disability. Addressing conditions earlier in adulthood can slow disease progression and improve well-being across the lifespan. We estimated, by life stage, 10-year trends among US adults in the prevalence of 1 or more chronic conditions, multiple chronic conditions (MCC; ≥2 conditions), and 12 selected chronic conditions.

Approximately 6 in 10 young, 8 in 10 midlife, and 9 in 10 older US adults report 1 or more chronic conditions. Trends in conditions worsened among young adults during 2013–2023. Recognizing the burden of chronic disease throughout life stages, especially earlier in life, practitioners and partners may consider prevention and management approaches critical for addressing costs, care, and health outcomes. Practitioners may also consider tailoring these approaches to unique roles, transitions, and challenges in different life stages.

Chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are costly and major causes of death and disability in the US (1,2). Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of chronic conditions has increased steadily, and this trend is expected to continue (3–5).

In 2018, more than half of US adults had at least 1 chronic condition, and more than one-quarter had 2 or more chronic conditions (6). In 2016, the total direct health care costs in the US for the treatment of chronic health conditions was $1.1 trillion (7). In addition to financial costs, increased death, and disability, the burden of chronic conditions includes decreased quality of life (8), increased health care utilization (8,9), lost productivity in the workforce (10), and loss in functioning (eg, social and leisure activities) (11).

In 2023, approximately 194 million American adults, and 6 in 10 young adults, 8 in 10 midlife adults, and 9 in 10 older adults reported 1 or more conditions. Prevalence of chronic conditions increased by 7.0 percentage points among young adults from 2013 to 2023.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (Trends in Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, By Life Stage, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013–2023)

Chronic diseases are crushing healthcare.

Our healthcare system is good at treating short-term problems, such as broken bones and infections. Medical advances are helping people live longer. But obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. The population is aging. We need to do a much better job managing chronic diseases.

Chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and Alzheimer’s disease take a heavy toll on health. Chronic conditions also cost vast amounts of money. The trends are going in the wrong direction:

• Obesity increases the risk of developing conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. The rate of obesity in adults has doubled in the last 20 years. It has almost tripled in kids ages 2-11. It has more than tripled in children ages 12-19.

• Without big changes, 1 in 3 babies born today will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

• Average healthcare costs for someone who has one or more chronic conditions is 5 times greater than for someone without any chronic conditions.

• Chronic diseases account for $3 of every $4 spent on healthcare. That’s nearly $7,900 for every American with a chronic disease.

• These chronic diseases drive healthcare costs at an alarming annual rate:

• Heart Disease and Stroke: $432 billion/year.

• Diabetes: $174 billion/year.

• Lung Disease: $154 billion/year.

• Alzheimer’s Disease: $148 billion/year.The human cost of chronic diseases cannot be ignored:

• The Human Cost

  • Chronic diseases cause 7 out of every 10 deaths.

  • Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease are the leading causes of disability and death in the US.

  • About 25% of people with chronic diseases have some type of activity limitation. This includes difficulty or needing help with personal tasks such as dressing or bathing. It may also mean being restricted from work or attending school.

  • Today, Americans suffering from chronic diseases face rising healthcare costs. They also receive lower quality care and have fewer options.

  • Health insurance co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise. In many cases, choices and care are limited.

  • The disabling and long-term symptoms that often come with chronic diseases add to extended pain and suffering. This decreases the overall quality of life.The financial and human costs of chronic diseases can no longer be ignored.

  • There is a way we can prevent this and it would be keeping your weight ideal for your height within the therapeutic body mass index range (calculate it for free online).  If you need to lose weight you’ve come to the right blog.  Do it through diet, exercise balanced with rest and practicing routine healthy habits that prone you to having a healthy body overall which prevents disease.  So many diseases are due to these factors not practiced daily =  good diet with exercise, healthy habits and a therapeutic weight for your height.  If we had most of American citizens living this way certain diseases would be decreased terribly helping our country out with this economy of ours with the health care system.  If you need assistance in reaching these healthy practices   Do you want a better fit body or even an overall healthier family including grandchildren to even our country than take the action NOW.  For your goal in playing a part in living healthier and spreading the good news would benefit you and all around us.  Also, for the next decade & generation to be healthier will help Americans holistically in their lives all around (including our health care showing a spread of disease in lower percentage due to healthier dieting and activity choices by our people, who are so important in helping to decide where the health of the present and future of the US citizens lies.  Should it take our government to make a move (finally after so many years)?   We must face the epidemic of chronic diseases. If we don’t, the human costs will continue to soar. We might even face a lack of available or affordable care when it is needed most.

• • REFERENCES:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Disease Overview: Costs of Chronic Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm. Accessed July 24, 2007.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overweight and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/index.htm. Accessed July 24, 2007.
  • American Diabetes Association. The Dangerous Toll of Diabetes. American Diabetes Association Web site. Available at http://diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/dangerous-toll.jsp. Accessed May 18, 2007.
  • Partnership for Solutions. Chronic Conditions: Making the Case for Ongoing Care, September 2004 Update. Partnership for Solutions Web site. Available at http://www.partnershipforsolutions.org/DMS/files/ chronicbook2004.pdf. Accessed July 24, 2007.
  • Mensah G, Brown D. An overview of cardiovascular disease burden in the United States. Health Aff 2007; 26:38-48.
  • American Diabetes Association. Direct and Indirect Costs of Diabetes in the United States. American Diabetes Association Web site. Available at http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/ cost-of-diabetes-in-HYPERLINK “http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/cost-of-diabetes-in-us.jsp”us.jsp. Accessed September 20, 2007.
  • Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures 2007. Alzheimer’s Association Web site. Available at http://www.alz.org/national/documents/Report_2007FactsAndFigures.pdf.

“Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality globally, responsible for a significant number of deaths and disabilities. In 2021 alone, CVDs accounted for 20.5 million deaths, comprising approximately one-third of all global deaths [1]. While cardiovascular conditions were traditionally considered diseases of affluence, this is no longer the case. Over three-quarters of CVD-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [2].

Moreover, these deaths are the primary contributor to premature non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality. Ischemic heart disease, specifically, stands as the leading cause of premature death in 146 countries for men and 98 countries for women [3]. ”

National Library of Medicine (The Heart of the World – PMC)

“Alone in the United States:

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups.1
• One person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease.1
• In 2023, 919,032 people died from cardiovascular disease. That’s the equivalent of 1 in every 3 deaths.1
• Heart disease cost about $417.9 billion from 2020to 2021.2This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.

Center of Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (Heart Disease Facts | Heart Disease | CDC)

If you have been reading regularly on this blog than you know this day  is dedicated everywhere for the health topic “WORLD HEART DAY”.

Governments and non-government organizations celebrate and promote World Heart Day with activities such as fun runs, public talks, concerts, and sporting events. The World Heart Federation organizes awareness events in more than 100 countries. They include:

• Health checks.
• Sports events, including walks, runs and fitness sessions.
• Public talks and science forums
• Stage shows and concerts.
• Exhibitions.

The World Heart Foundation organizes World Heart Day, an international campaign held on September 29 to inform people about cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular Diseases:

Coronary heart disease is a common term for the buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries that could lead to heart attack. But what about coronary artery disease? Is there a difference?

The short answer is often no — health professionals frequently use the terms interchangeably.

However, coronary heart disease , or CHD, is actually a result of coronary artery disease, or CAD, said Edward A. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., an American Heart Association volunteer who is the Leon H. Charney Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and also of the Marc and Ruti Bell Vascular Biology and Disease Program at the NYU School of Medicine.

Coronary heart disease is a common term for the buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries that could lead to heart attack. But what about coronary artery disease? Is there a difference?

The short answer is often no — health professionals frequently use the terms interchangeably.

However, coronary heart disease , or CHD, is actually a result of coronary artery disease, or CAD, said Edward A. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., an American Heart Association volunteer who is the Leon H. Charney Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and also of the Marc and Ruti Bell Vascular Biology and Disease Program at the NYU School of Medicine.

With coronary artery disease, plaque first grows within the walls of the coronary arteries until the blood flow to the heart’s muscle is limited. View an illustration of coronary arteries. This is also called ischemia. It may be chronic, narrowing of the coronary artery over time and limiting of the blood supply to part of the muscle. Or it can be acute, resulting from a sudden rupture of a plaque and formation of a thrombus or blood clot.

The traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease are high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history, diabetes, smoking, being post-menopausal for women and being older than 45 for men, according to Fisher. Obesity may also be a risk factor.

“Coronary artery disease begins in childhood, so that by the teenage years, there is evidence that plaques that will stay with us for life are formed in most people,” said Fisher, who is former editor of the American Heart Association journal, ATVB. “Preventive measures instituted early are thought to have greater lifetime benefits. Healthy lifestyles will delay the progression of CAD, and there is hope that CAD can be regressed before it causes CHD.”

Living a healthy lifestyle that incorporates good nutrition, weight management and getting plenty of physical activity can play a big role in avoiding CAD.

“Coronary artery disease is preventable,” agreed Johnny Lee, M.D., president of New York Heart Associates, and an American Heart Association volunteer. “Typical warning signs are chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations and even fatigue.”

What is a “widow maker”?  Well for starters, this is the deadliest heart attack.  The symptoms you need to know to possibly prevent the results of this widow maker.  It occurs when there is a complete blockage of the left artery feeding the heart with blood.  This causes a cut off of oxygen supply  to one of the large parts of the heart muscle, which can cause it to stop beating, causing you to die.

A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked.

The heart muscle is then robbed of vital oxygenated blood, which if left untreated, can cause the heart muscle to begin to die.

A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency.

A widow maker heart attack is caused when the LAD artery becomes blocked.

It occurs when there’s a complete blockage of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, one of two main arteries that brings OXYGENATED blood to the heart=FOOD TO THE HEART MUSCLE (O2).

When it is blocked due to a build up of plaque it is most often deadly, hence the name “widow maker”.  How to we get plaque build up?

Cholesterol plaques can be the cause of heart disease. Plaques begin in artery walls and grow over years. The growth of cholesterol!  The plaques slowly blocks blood flow in the arteries. Worse, a cholesterol plaque can suddenly rupture. The sudden blood clot that forms over the rupture then causes a heart attack or stroke.

Blocked arteries caused by plaque buildup and blood clots are the leading cause of death in the U.S. Reducing cholesterol and other risk factors can help prevent cholesterol plaques from forming. Occasionally, it can even reverse some plaque buildup.

“When the main artery down the front of the heart (LAD) is totally blocked or has a critical blockage, right at the beginning of the vessel, it is known as the Widow Maker. (The medical term for this is a proximal LAD lesion). No one knows exactly who came up with the term, but the reason they did is likely that if that artery is blocked right at the beginning of its course, then the whole artery after it goes down. This essentially means that the whole front wall of the heart goes down. As far as heart attacks go, this is a big one, with big consequences if not dealt with appropriately and FAST!”

myheart.net/Dr. Ahmed – an Interventional Cardiologist and Director of Structural Heart Disease at Princeton-Baptist Hospital.

Symptoms:

A widow maker heart attack has the same symptoms as any other heart attack.

They can be difficult to spot for sure, because they can vary from person to person.

The most common signs include:

• chest pain, tightness, heaviness, pain or a burning feeling in your chest
• pain in the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
• for some people the pain and tightness will be severe, while for others it will just feel uncomfortable
• sweating
• feeling light-headed
• becoming short of breath
• feeling nauseous or vomiting

How is a heart attack treated?

The first port of call for treatment, is for doctors to treat the blocked artery.

There are two main procedures used to open up the blocked blood vessel.

The first, a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is an emergency coronary angioplasty.

It opens the blockage and helps restore blood supply to the heart.

The second treatment, is thrombosis, also known as a “clot buster”.

It involves injecting a drug into the vein to dissolve the blood clot and restore blood supply to the heart that way.  In some cases this procedure can be performed in the ambulance.

While these treatments are common, in some cases they will not be right for the patient and so won’t be performed.  The MD Cardiologist will know the right Rx.

Take good care of your HEART, the engine to the human body!  First do all preventative measures to prevent getting any cardiovascular diseases but if you have cardiovascular diseases then follow your M.D. instructions on any meds if he prescribed them for you, eat the proper foods for a cardiac diet, and balance rest with exercise.   See your cardiologist as he or she recommends.