The ‘silent’ heart risks people may not know they have
Parkland encourages routine heart health screenings on World Heart Day
Heart disease doesn’t always come with a warning. It can develop silently for years before symptoms appear. For World Heart Day on Sept. 29, Parkland Health is encouraging the community to understand their risk of heart disease while emphasizing the importance of “knowing your numbers.”
According to the 2025 Dallas County Community Health Needs Assessment, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Dallas County. It is consistently ranked as the top health concern across multiple CHNA cycles. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart disease. The CHNA report notes that 138,866 individuals were in the Parkland Hypertension Registry in 2024.
“High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can silently damage the heart, kidneys and blood vessels for years before a person ever feels sick,” explained Jose Joglar, MD, Program Chief of Medicine Services at Parkland.
Untreated high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder over time, weakening it and raising the risk of stroke, kidney failure and even heart failure.
“There’s a reason hypertension is called the silent killer,” Dr. Joglar said. “You might not know it until you end up in the hospital. You don’t want to wait for problems to happen. You want to stay ahead of them.”
Doctors recommend monitoring three key numbers:
• Blood Pressure – Systolic pressure (top number) is the pressure when the heart beats, and diastolic pressure (bottom number) is the pressure when the heart rests. The recommended target is less than 130/80 mmHg.
• Cholesterol – Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body needs to build cells, make vitamins and produce hormones. But too much of it can pose a problem. A healthy lipid profile includes low LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Cholesterol goals vary based on a person's overall cardiovascular risk. Triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood, should stay below 150 mg/dL.
• A1C (blood sugar) – An A1C blood test measures your average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. An A1C level under 5.7% is considered normal. For people managing diabetes, doctors typically recommend maintaining an A1C level at 7% or below.
Certain symptoms should never be ignored, Dr. Joglar said. Sudden or severe chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, or other signs of a possible heart attack require immediate medical attention.
Even people who feel healthy and maintain an active lifestyle aren’t automatically in the clear, Dr. Joglar noted. Genetic conditions can raise cholesterol levels regardless of diet or exercise, underscoring the importance of routine screenings with a primary care doctor even when you feel fine. There are also effective medications that can be used to treat these risk factors and lower a person's risk of heart attack or stroke.
“Prevention is important because these things don’t happen overnight,” Dr. Joglar added. “They happen over many, many years, and the earlier you stay on top of these health concerns, the better it is to manage and hopefully prevent.”
If you or a loved one has concerns about high blood pressure or related symptoms, Parkland’s Access to Care & Coverage Program offers health screenings, including blood pressure checks, and other services in neighborhoods throughout Dallas County.
To learn more about hypertension, visit www.parklandhealth.org/hypertension.
For more information about services available at Parkland, please visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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