Taking care of your heart is very important. According to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause
of death for men and women in the United States. Our goal at St. Croix
Health, is to help treat and better educate patients about heart disease,
including what the causes are and what you can do to prevent them. The
St. Croix Health Cardiology Department provides a comprehensive heart
care service, including
Cardiac Rehabilitation at our St. Croix Falls and Lindstrom Clinics and a
Pacemaker Clinic at our St. Croix Falls Clinic.
If You Are Having a Medical Emergency,Please Dial 911
What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is a term used for many conditions that affect the heart
and blood vessels. Most heart diseases are asymptomatic at first, meaning
there likely be no signs or symptoms such as pain or discomfort until
a cardiac event occurs.
The most common form of heart disease is caused by Atherosclerosis (Coronary
Artery Disease), a condition where artery plaque builds up in your blood
vessels and increases the risk of forming a blood clot. A blood clot can
cut off the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart or brain, which can
lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Your lifestyle and family medical history play a role in your risk factors
for heart disease. Here are some things you can do to prevent heart disease:
Reduce sodium (salt) in your diet, you can find sodium contents in the
nutritional information boxes on food packaging.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You can break this
up into three 10-minute exercises or two 15-minute exercises during the day.
Substitute Omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. You can do this by consuming
more fish, almonds, walnuts, olive oil, and spinach instead of meat, butter,
and processed foods.
Stop smoking tobacco.
Find ways to reduce stress. Stress and anxiety can raise your blood pressure
and put more strain on your heart.
Heart Resources
The following links provide additional information on heart care:
My Medicines— Download and print this form to keep track of all the medicine you take,
including the name, the amount you take (dose), and the time you take it.
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