Heart Disease

What is the top health concern in Lebanon County? 

According to both helathdata.org and health.pa.gov, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Lebanon County area. 

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a broad term that covers several conditions affecting the heart. Other than the genetics that you inherit, there are many preventable risk factors that contribute to heart disease. If made early enough, lifestyle and dietary modifications can help prevent heart disease, or help you to live a long and healthy life after you are diagnosed (CDC, 2022).

What is leading cause of heart disease in the United States? 

While there are several different causes of heart disease, the leading cause according to the CDC is coronary artery disease (CAD). With CAD, blood flow to the heart is limited due to blocked arteries. 

NOTE: You may also hear CAD raftered to as ischemic heart disease or ischemic heart disease (CDC, 2022). 

What are the symptoms of heart disease that should I look out for? 

Believe it or not, you may not have any symptoms of heart disease at all until it is too late and you have a heart attack. 

The most common symptoms of CAD: 

• Chest pain or discomfort (Angina). This is because your heart is no longer able to receive the proper blood flow due to blockage. Since your heart cant receive the blood that it needs to properly function, you feel pain to let you know something is wrong (CDC, 2022). 

Symptoms of a heart attack: 

• Weakness, lightheaded or nausea 
• Shortness of breath 
• Arm or shoulder pain (CDC, 2022).

What are the heart disease risk factors that I can take control of? 

• Being physically inactive 
• Being overweight or obese 
• Consuming too much alcohol 
• Diabetes (this affects many organs and body systems) 
• Eating an unhealthy diet 
• Smoking or the use of tobacco products (CDC,2022)

How can Lancaster Wellness help you? 

Lancaster Wellness offers several great services that can help you get your heart on the right tract. 

Direct Primary Care: With direct primary care you have unlimited access to a team of providers that can sit down and create a treatment plan that fits your individual needs. We can look at lab values that affect your heart such as your cholesterol levels, monitor your blood pressure, and other risk factors to make sure that you are on the right track. 

• In addition to getting, you the proper medications and monitoring your labs as needed WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE PERMINANT LIFESTYLE CHANGES! 

We offer personal training and assist with creating heart healthy meal plans to meet your needs. 

At Lancaster Wellness, we have a multi-pronged approach to support you in your weight loss journey:

• Coaching with weekly check-ins and high accessibility throughout the week
• Meal plans customized to suit your needs and goals
• Fitness programming – customized according to your abilities and fitness levels
• Medical management includes FDA-approved medications, hormone assessments when appropriate, and oversight by a physician-led medical team