Test your medical IQ with this Heart Disease Quiz. Thanks to the folks at Medicine.Net who created this great quiz and important heart health facts. See how many you can answer correctly…
Q1: In the US, 1 in every ___ deaths is caused by heart disease.
A: 4
Explanation: Heart disease causes the deaths of over half a million people in the US annually, which totals a quarter of all deaths in men and women each year. Approximately three quarters of a million US heart deaths are from heart attack – most of these are first time heart attacks.
Q2: What is a myocardial infarction?
A: A heart attack
Explanation: The definition of myocardial infarction is the medical term for heart attack.
Q3: Sudden cardiac arrest means that the heart ________.
A: Stops beating
Explanation: When the heart suddenly stops beating, it is referred to as a sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest stops the blood from flowing to vital organs, including the brain.
Q4: What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
A: A number of things: fatigue, dizziness, nausea…
Explanation: The many symptoms of heart disease include:
– fatigue, – weakness, – shortness of breath, – dizziness, – palpitations, – chest discomfort and/or pain, – chest heaviness, – nausea, – vomiting, and – pain that radiates to the jaw, arm, or throat.
Sometimes heart disease causes no symptoms at all. People with the symptoms above persisting for longer than five minutes should call 9-1-1 immediately for emergency medical care. Your doctor should be notified for symptoms lasting less than five minutes. Urgent evaluation and care is key in preventing injury and death.
Q5: Is heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the US?
A: Yes
Explanation: Heart disease is the leading killer of women, leading to more women dying each year than all cancer deaths combined! Older women are more likely to have heart disease, however all women should be screened for prevention and early treatment.
Q6: What are the risk factors for heart disease?
A: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise.
Explanation: Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. They can also increase the chances that an existing disease will get worse. Important risk factors for heart disease are:
– High blood pressure – High blood cholesterol – Diabetes – Smoking – Being overweight – Lack of exercise – Having a family history of early heart disease – Age (55 or older for women)
Q7: In the heart, a clogged artery causes a heart attack. What does a clogged artery in the brain cause?
A: A stroke
Explanation: A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is significantly impaired. A stroke that results from inadequate blood supply to the brain is referred to as an ischemic stroke. When a blood vessel to the brain breaks open and bleeds, it causes a hemorrhagic stroke.
Q8: When heart trouble is sensed, who tends to wait at least 2 hours before help is called?
A: Both men and women
Explanation: Unfortunately, Americans typically wait over two hours before calling for help when they have symptoms of heart disease. This can be a dangerous mistake.
Q9: Does the term “heart failure” mean the heart has stopped working completely?
A: No
Explanation: When the heart does not pump strongly enough to circulate blood throughout the body, the condition is referred to as heart failure. This can occur because of heart muscle weakness or inadequate filling of blood into the heart chambers.
Q10: Can people be born with heart disease?
A: Yes
Explanation: Congenital heart disease and congenital heart defects are heart problems that are present at birth. There are many forms of heart defects including abnormal development of the heart muscle, heart valves, and blood vessels into and out of the heart. Heart defects are common birth abnormalities, present in over 30,000 infants born annually.
Q11: Has heart disease ever been the cause of 50% of deaths in the US?
A: Yes
Explanation: Heart disease and stroke were the causes of 50% of deaths in the U.S. by 1950. At that time, it was not fully understood what led to cardiovascular disease, and heart deaths were common in people 50 years of age.
Q12: What is the most common type of heart disease in the US?
A: Coronary artery disease
Explanation: The most common form of heart disease in the U.S. is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD causes heart attacks because the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle is inadequate. Lifestyle changes and medications can reduce the risk of CAD.