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Nikeyia Ingram, 38, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) at just 6 months old, experiences pain nearly every day due to the red blood cell disorder. Most days, she’s able to treat the pain and manage her disease by controlling her stress, staying hydrated and keeping in touch with her medical team. Lately, Ingram has been finding that grief has been affecting her ability to manage her disease. Last year, she lost her 15-year-old, Demetrius Ingram, her only son, in a car accident. The heartache exacerbates her pain.

An epidemic of chronic diseases continues to grow in the United States; half the population — an estimated 129 million Americans — have lifelong health conditions that need continuous medical attention and limit certain daily activities.

When it comes to stroke, it’s crucial to know how to recognize its signs and symptoms so you can access care quickly and preserve brain function. One acronym — BE FAST — can make it easier to identify a stroke, which happens when there’s a blockage to the brain’s blood supply (an ischemic stroke) or a sudden rupture and bleeding in the brain (a hemorrhagic stroke).

BE FAST stands for:

What is the difference between cardiovascular disease and heart disease?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term that encompasses several heart conditions, including heart disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.