Published in partnership with MnFIRE partner, Optum
Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters. Ongoing physical exertion, exposure to heavy smoke, toxins, heat, stress and sudden adrenaline spikes put strain on cardiovascular systems and can trigger or reveal underlying heart conditions.
Understanding how your heart works, recognizing warning signs and taking steps to help protect it are key to staying healthy.
Notable symptoms
Some heart conditions can be silent, meaning there are no obvious symptoms. Therefore, regular checkups are essential and important to fit into your busy schedule. When signs do appear, they can be sudden or gradual and show up through the following symptoms:
- Chest, arm, jaw or back pain or discomfort
- Stomach pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme fatigue or dizziness
- Racing or very slow heartbeat
- Fluttery or irregular feeling in your chest
- Swelling of your feet, ankles, legs, abdomen or neck veins
- Erectile dysfunction
If you experience any of these symptoms, monitor them closely and contact a medical professional. If symptoms are severe or sudden, seek immediate medical attention.
Perfect storm for cardiac events
When the alarm sounds or an urgent call comes in, a firefighter’s heart rate spikes instantly from a resting state to near-maximum capacity, forcing the cardiovascular system to perform under pressure without warming up. Wearing heavy, restrictive gear can also cause dehydration and increase body temperature, which can thicken blood and put strain on the heart.
Extreme physical demands, exposure to toxins, sleep deprivation, a high-calorie diet and chronic psychological stress create the perfect storm for cardiac events for fire service members.
Common heart diseases
With fire service members at a higher risk for cardiac issues. It’s good to be aware of the most common heart diseases, including:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD, also called ischemic heart disease) is when plaque builds in your arteries that supply blood to your heart. CAD increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. Symptoms can include chest pain (angina).
- Stroke, also called cerebrovascular disease, happens when blood flow to your brain is blocked or reduced. Symptoms can include numbness on one side of your body, confusion, difficulty seeing, loss of balance or coordination, severe headache and fainting.
- Heart failure occurs when your heart can’t pump blood effectively. Symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, or swelling in your legs or ankles.
- Irregular heartbeat (called arrhythmias) is when your heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly. This increases your risk for a stroke and heart failure. Atrial fibrillation, the most common type, can increase stroke risk. Symptoms can include chest pain or discomfort, a fluttering feeling in your chest, lightheadedness, racing or slow heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Together, these conditions make up the majority of cardiovascular diseases, which are responsible for roughly 32% of all deaths worldwide – with 85% of those deaths resulting from heart attacks and strokes, according to the World Health Organization.
Vital MnFIRE training
MnFIRE offers two-hour deep dive training sessions, including a cardiac course that looks at heightened risk factors, the types of cardiovascular diseases that most often impact firefighters and prevention strategies to help firefighters lessen their risk. Departments are highly encouraged to learn more and register here.
