ROCK HILL, SC - As we settle into the New Year and kick off February’s American Heart Month, now is the perfect time to set or revisit your goals for the year. Piedmont Medical Center is encouraging residents to make heart health a priority.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in America, but there are ways we can reduce or eliminate our risk of developing it, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet.

Our experienced team at Piedmont Medical Center is dedicated to providing patients in the Mid-South with comprehensive cardiac care close to home. If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition or you come to us for cardiac care, our dedicated team of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, techs, respiratory therapists and support staff is prepared to take care of you. With a full range of cardiac services, when patients come to Piedmont Medical Center, they can rest assured their heart is in the right place.

Each year in February, we recognize American Heart Month by focusing on ways to improve heart health. We hope you’ll join us by learning more about heart health by visiting https://www.piedmontmedicalcenter.com/services/cardiovascular.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 805,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.

This is also a good time to make sure you are up-to-date on your health screenings. Screenings and check-ups that are often covered by insurance can alert you to health conditions that need addressing sooner rather than later. From knowing your numbers for heart health to a mammogram or colonoscopy, early detection may prevent complications down the road.