by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: January 28, 2011   Last Updated: July 05, 2011

Heart disease information is easy to find on the Internet, but to be sure of the latest risks and up to date facts, it is best to look to those sites that are not selling or promoting heart medications. Although these will give correct information, they will be biased toward their own products.

The best all around heart information is found at The American Heart Association. It is their only business and they deal with it in a variety of ways, informational, educational, who to believe, what to believe, how to get involved in their work, and they have what information a researcher may need. A glance at their home page shows posted signs that address Getting Healthy, Conditions, Health care/ Research, Caregiver, Educator, CPR & ECC.  

Deciphering the categories will inform the researcher that if its about the heart, they have what they are looking for, how to keep their heart healthy, the various types of heart diseases, facts about the health care industry and associated research along those lines. In addition, how to care for those with a heart condition, how to instruct others in heart care, and how to resuscitate if necessary, and they explain about the electrocardiogram.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) while not exclusively about the heart, has a large alphabetized list of illnesses it concerns itself with, diseases of the heart making up a large part of their research offerings. They explain, cite statistics, answers questions, and publish bulletins and pamphlets on the various ways the heart can become unhealthy. They are involved nationally, state and in the community and see the US and all its territories as their responsibility to inform and teach.

Three of the most asked questions, what is heart disease, what are the symptoms of a heart attack, and what should a bystander do if they think someone is having a heart attack, are answered. They explain the heart is likely to diseased in many ways, but the most often one is an attack. They explain the symptoms: tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and distress and pain in other parts of the body such as neck, arms, etc.

As to what a bystander should do when someone nearby appears to be having a heart attack, they advise calling 911. It is better to be safe. Time makes a big difference when dealing with heart attacks, a condition where a person's life may depend on a few minutes of professional care.  The arriving medics will determine what course to take next.

Women's Heart Health is a woman's best on-line friend. Why is it necessary to separate the hearts of women from men's heart? Don't they both beat in the same way? Yes they do, but the symptoms of a heart attack are often different. While most web-sites distinguish between the way women and men differ in heart attack symptoms, Women's Heart takes sides.

The Cleveland Clinic is dedicated to excellence where heart health is concerned. They have been leaders in their diagnostic and treatments for many years. It is often heard from the most casual acquaintance that when their home town doctor cannot find out what is wrong with them, the Cleveland Clinic can. Now they have put their expertise online and anyone who wants to know more about heart diseases, can research and learn more.

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