Every 40 seconds, an American suffers a heart attack. February is American Heart Month, an appropriate time to learn about the warning signs of heart disease and heart attack and to discover your options for benefits if you suffer from these conditions.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death for Americans. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. More than 800,000 Americans suffer heart attacks every year, and more than 600,000 of these are first- time events. About one in five heart attacks is a silent heart attack, a highly common condition in which the person experiences what seems like fatigue, breathlessness and indigestion, without realizing that a heart attack has occurred. The damage to the heart muscles even in a silent heart attack can be permanent.
If you have been diagnosed with cardiac disease, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. However, a diagnosis by itself will not qualify you for benefits. The Social Security Administration has a list of criteria that it will employ to determine whether your condition qualifies for benefits.