American Heart Month
by Jennifer Bunn, RNFebruary is designated as American Heart Month, a good time to reflect on our own personal risks for heart disease and how best to prevent the development of heart disease. Although there are some risk factors you can’t change, such as your age, heredity and whether you are male or female, there are several areas that you can work on:
Quitting smoking- this is perhaps one of the best and most important things you can do to decrease your risk for heart disease. Smokers carry a two-to-fourfold risk of developing heart disease when compared to non-smokers.
Lose weight- being overweight forces your heart to work harder. Obesity also contributes to hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. Losing weight, even a small amount, can help in the fight against heart disease.
Exercise- exercising can help you lose weight, avoid diabetes, lower your blood pressure and decrease your cholesterol. The more exercise you do, the healthier your heart will be! Regular, moderate physical activity has been proven to improve heart health, while a sedentary lifestyle is a known risk factor for the development of heart disease.
Watch your blood pressure- high blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease, especially when other risk factors are present, such as diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Monitor your blood pressure regularly, and intervene early.
As well as knowing your risk factors for heart disease, it is important to know the signs of a heart attack, the most obvious of which is chest pain or discomfort. Pain or discomfort may come and go, or may be constant. It may be centered in the mid-sternum and may feel like squeezing, pressure, or tightness. You may also feel light-headed, nauseous, and may feel short of breath.
