Heart Disease in Oklahoma: Know Your Risk and When to Seek Care
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Heart disease can develop quietly over many years. High cholesterol and plaque buildup often cause no noticeable symptoms, so many people may not recognize their risk until a serious cardiovascular event occurs.
This is especially concerning in Oklahoma, where heart disease is the leading cause of death. The good news is that many cardiovascular risk factors can be identified and managed. Knowing your cholesterol, blood pressure, family history and other health information can help you and your healthcare provider develop a plan to protect your heart.
“Plaque can build up in the arteries slowly over many years,” says George Chrysant, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital. “In some cases, plaque can contribute to sudden events such as a heart attack or stroke. Over time, cardiovascular disease can also contribute to conditions such as heart failure.”
What increases your risk of heart disease?
Coronary heart disease develops when plaque accumulates in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This buildup can narrow the arteries and increase the risk of a heart attack and other cardiovascular complications.
Factors that may increase your risk include:
- High LDL, sometimes called “bad” cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes or elevated fasting blood glucose
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Physical inactivity
- Excess weight
- A family history of premature heart disease or stroke
- Chronic kidney disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Elevated triglycerides
- Low HDL cholesterol
- Certain chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus and vasculitis
- For women, a history of early menopause, preeclampsia or eclampsia
Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will develop heart disease. It does mean you should discuss your overall cardiovascular risk with your healthcare provider.
What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that occur together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
A healthcare professional may diagnose metabolic syndrome when a person has at least three of the following:
- Elevated waist circumference
- High blood pressure
- High fasting blood glucose
- High triglycerides
- Low HDL cholesterol
Because these factors are interconnected, addressing them together can be an important part of protecting your long-term health.
Understanding cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body needs to build cells and perform other essential functions. Your liver produces cholesterol, and it is also found in certain foods.
Too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. A blood test called a lipid panel measures several types of fat and cholesterol in your blood.
LDL cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is often called “bad” cholesterol. When LDL levels are too high, cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of the arteries and contribute to plaque formation.
HDL cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is sometimes called “good” cholesterol because it helps carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver.
Higher HDL levels may be associated with a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, but HDL should not be evaluated by itself. Your healthcare provider will consider it together with your LDL, triglycerides and other risk factors.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. They store excess energy from the foods you eat.
High triglycerides, particularly when combined with high LDL or low HDL, are associated with fatty buildup in the artery walls and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
What should your cholesterol numbers be?
For many adults, an LDL level below 100 mg/dL is considered optimal. However, there is no single cholesterol goal that is right for everyone.
People who have cardiovascular disease, diabetes or other major risk factors may need a lower LDL goal. Your healthcare provider will interpret your results based on factors such as:
- Your age
- Your personal and family health history
- Your blood pressure
- Whether you have diabetes
- Whether you use tobacco
- Your current medications
- Whether you have previously experienced a heart attack or stroke
- Whether you have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease
The American Heart Association notes that HDL is not an independent treatment target and should not be interpreted on its own.
Why cholesterol screening matters
Most people with high cholesterol feel completely normal. A blood test is the only way to know your cholesterol levels.
Regular cholesterol screening can identify potential concerns before they contribute to serious cardiovascular problems. How often you need to be tested depends on your age, medical history, previous results and other risk factors.
Talk with your primary care provider about when you should have your cholesterol checked and what your results mean for your overall heart health.
A heart scan revealed a hidden risk for one Oklahoma patient
Mike Mason spent 37 years teaching in Oklahoma’s public school system. In 2022, while in his 60s, Mike and his wife, Julia, decided to have preventive heart scans. Although Mike was not expecting an alarming result, his coronary artery calcium score was nearly 4,000, indicating a significant amount of calcified plaque in his coronary arteries.
“I was shocked,” Mike says. “I was also really scared.”
Mike’s primary care physician referred him to a familiar cardiologist: his former Putnam City High School biology student, George Chrysant, M.D. Under medical guidance, Mike began taking blood pressure and cholesterol medications and made heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
Several years later, Mike experienced cardiac arrest during an unrelated choking incident. Firefighters performed CPR and used a defibrillator to revive him before he was transferred to INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital, where Dr. Chrysant helped oversee his cardiac care. Mike later participated in cardiac rehabilitation and continued his recovery.
Mike’s story shows why it is important to understand your cardiovascular risk even when you feel well. A heart scan cannot predict whether or when a cardiac event will occur, but for certain patients, it can reveal calcified plaque and provide information that helps guide conversations about preventive care.
Read Mike Mason’s full patient story.
Could a heart scan help clarify your risk?
Mike’s experience is powerful, but every patient’s health history and cardiovascular risk are different. A coronary artery calcium scan, sometimes called a heart scan, is a quick, noninvasive CT test that looks for calcium-containing plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
The scan produces a coronary artery calcium score:
- A score of zero means the scan did not detect calcified plaque.
- A higher score indicates a greater amount of calcified plaque.
- The result may help your healthcare provider better understand your cardiovascular risk and discuss appropriate preventive care.
A calcium score cannot predict exactly whether or when a heart attack will occur. Instead, it provides additional information that may help estimate your future cardiovascular risk and could help guide decisions about preventive treatment.
Talk with your healthcare provider about whether a heart scan is appropriate based on your age, medical history and individual risk factors.
When should you talk with your healthcare provider?
Consider scheduling a routine appointment if:
- You do not know your cholesterol or blood pressure numbers
- You have a family history of heart disease or stroke
- You have diabetes, kidney disease or another condition that may increase your cardiovascular risk
- You currently smoke or previously used tobacco
- You have questions about your weight, nutrition or physical activity
- You want help making heart-healthy lifestyle changes
- You are unsure whether you may benefit from a heart scan
When heart symptoms may be an emergency
A preventive heart scan is not an emergency test. Call 911 immediately if you or someone around you experiences possible signs of a heart attack, which may include:
- Chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath
- A cold sweat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Sudden or unusual fatigue
Symptoms can vary from person to person and may not always include severe chest pain. Do not drive yourself to the hospital or wait for symptoms to go away. Calling 911 allows emergency medical professionals to begin evaluating and treating you as quickly as possible.
Take the next step for your heart
Oklahoma’s heart disease statistics are concerning, but they do not determine your individual future. Understanding your risk factors and working with a healthcare professional can help you take informed steps to protect your heart.
To learn whether a coronary artery calcium scan may be appropriate for you, call 405-951-5000 or submit a request to schedule a heart scan.
Medically reviewed by George Chrysant, M.D., interventional cardiologist at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital. This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about your individual cardiovascular risk and screening needs.
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Call us directly at 405-948-4040 to schedule your appointment—no referral required. Your primary care doctor can also provide a referral.
