February is American Heart Month, which means you have probably seen numerous news articles telling you what to do and what to eat to stay healthy. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year. That means one in every four deaths can be attributed to some sort of coronary problem.

The majority of these deaths are preventable. Factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and poor diet contribute to about three quarters of all heart attacks. Persons who lead such lifestyles often complain of shortness of breath and/or fatigue.

Yet according to WebMD, “about 25 percent of all heart attacks occur without any previous warning signs.” There are a number of considerations that contribute to heart disease aside from poor life decisions. This 25 percent of people regularly visit their doctor, do their best to lead a healthy lifestyle, and do not smoke. However, there are a number of hereditary and environmental factors that also play a role in heart health.

“A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely,” according to the American Heart Association. Arteries can grow narrow from a “buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances that together are called plaque.” This plaque can lead to blood clots which prevent blood from flowing freely into the heart. Starved of oxygen and nutrients, the heart becomes damaged. Parts of the muscle can even die.

A stethoscope is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to monitor heart health. A doctor can listen for any abnormal heart rhythms that may indicate restricted blood flow.

Another cheap and highly effective method of examining your heart health is a cardiac catheterization. This is known as the gold standard test for blood flow problems. The procedure involves injecting a dye that is visible by X-ray into the blood stream. The screening will show the rate of blood flow to the heart and if any arteries have plaque build up.

Nearly 80 percent of heart attacks are preventable. Visit your doctor today to see if you are at risk.