Heart Disease  •  Cancer  •  Stroke  •  Diabetes

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary artery disease occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart (called coronary arteries). Plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits, which can accumulate in your arteries. When this happens, your arteries can narrow over time. This process is called atherosclerosis.

Plaque buildup can cause angina, the most common symptom of CAD. This condition causes chest pain or discomfort because the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood. Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle. This may lead to heart failure, a serious condition where the heart can't pump blood the way that it should. An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can also develop.

For some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. This occurs when plaque completely blocks an artery carrying blood to the heart. It also can happen if a plaque deposit breaks off and clots a coronary artery. See www.cdc.gov for more information.

Heart Attack

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, occurs when a section of the heart muscle dies or gets damaged because of reduced blood supply. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the main cause of heart attack. A less common cause is a severe spasm of a coronary artery, which also can prevent blood supply from reaching the heart.

It is important to seek immediate treatment for a heart attack. Otherwise, further damage to the heart muscle can occur and an irregular heart rhythm may develop.

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops. Unless treated, a person whose heart has stopped will die within minutes. For more information see www.cdc.gov

Cancer

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which are located inside the scrotum, a loose bag of skin underneath the penis. The testicles produce male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction.

Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34. www.mayoclinic.com.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In 2005, 185,895 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 28,905 men died from it. The CDC provides men, doctors, and policymakers with the latest information about prostate cancer. See www.cdc.gov.

Stroke

A stroke occurs either when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts, causing damage to a part of the brain. A stroke is also sometimes called a brain attack.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Among survivors, stroke can cause significant disability including paralysis as well as speech and emotional problems. New treatments are available that can reduce the damage caused by a stroke for some victims. But these treatments need to be given soon after the symptoms start.

Knowing the symptoms of stroke, calling 911 right away, and getting to a hospital are crucial to the most beneficial outcomes after having a stroke. The best treatment is to try to prevent a stroke by taking steps to lower your risk for stroke. See www.cdc.gov

Diabetes

Myth: Diabetes is not that serious of a disease.

Fact: Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. For more information www.diabetes.org.