Harper and Heidi Gaffney share more than sisterhood. Both were diagnosed at an early age with familial congestive heart failure, a genetic condition that made it hard for their hearts to pump blood.

An aging population, rising rates of diabetes and obesity -- along with limited access to care for some -- continue to fuel the incidence of heart disease. However, the way medicine prevents and treats it has advanced dramatically.

February is American Heart Month, and a local doctor is hoping others will hear his story and get more serious and committed to their own heart health.

The decision to move forward with a heart transplant is made when all other treatment options been unsuccessful.

As the leading cause of death in South Central Texas, KSAT Community is partnering with University Health to host a live televised resource phone bank.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, but a new study showed 65 percent of women who have high risk factors, are not even referred to specialists. The top doctors in the field admit big changes need to happen fast before more women fall through the cracks.

Anger is a natural emotion but not dealing with the underlying issues that cause explosive outbursts of anger could lead to heart problems, according to a recent study.

For one local woman, her entire family has been dealing with heart health issues, from having to get valve replacements, to suffering strokes and open heart surgery.

A study unearthed a striking revelation: women experienced more pronounced tightening in their small peripheral arteries compared to men under mental stress.

Emergencies can happen anywhere, and knowing CPR can be life-saving. The American Heart Association says when a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby.

Did you know that heart disease kills one out of every four people who die in the United States each year?

How’s your heart?

SAN ANTONIO – February is the the American Heart Association’s Heart Month, a time when good heart health should be at the forefront and something that COVID-19 tends to overshadow. Dr. Elaine Maldonado, a pediatric cardiologist at UT Health San Antonio, said increasingly, alarmed parents are bringing their children into her office, worried their loved one is suffering from a heart condition. But stress and anxiety can bring on a lot of these symptoms that would point people towards thinking that they have a heart problem,” Maldonado said. Maldonado said the best way to make sure it’s not the heart is a cardiac evaluation. Once a heart attack is ruled out, the next step should be correcting the situation at home that is causing the anxiety.

How familiar are you with proper heart health? February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. What better time to learn about your health, improve your health or work toward becoming your best self? It could start with this quiz, below. Test your heart health knowledge today.