Prairie is excited to be the exclusive cardiovascular partner with the Heart of Wes Barr to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.

If you would like to support these efforts, please click here and select the Raising the Barr on Heart Health (in memory of Wes Barr) designation.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, more than all forms of cancer combined. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include age, family history, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Symptoms vary widely. Many times, women dismiss the symptoms of a heart attack because they don’t think they are at risk and attribute them to less severe conditions like heartburn or signs of menopause.

The five major symptoms of a heart attack for men and women include:

• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back
• Feeling weak, light-headed or faint
• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
• Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulders
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort

In addition to these symptoms, women are more likely to experience:

• Unusual or unexplained tiredness
• Nausea or vomiting

If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in yourself of someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately. Your chances of surviving a heart attack are greater the sooner emergency treatment begins. You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease.

To lower your risk:

• Watch your weight
• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation
• Get active and eat healthy