Heart Month: Heart Health Matters

Understanding Risks and Prevention During National Heart Month

February is a month that is dedicated to bringing awareness to our cardiovascular health and how we can make healthy changes in our lives to improve our heart health. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of deaths in the United States, with its impact especially significant in the senior population. Bringing awareness to this every February can help to inform us on how to recognize warning signs, understand risk factors, and make healthier choices to support our long-term health.

Recognizing the Early Signs of Heart Issues

Oftentimes, signs of early heart disease can go unnoticed. Early detection of symptoms that point to heart issues are crucial in order to make the necessary changes before they escalate to something more serious. By knowing what signs to look out for, we can take action to intervene early and get the necessary care. Some major symptoms be cautious of are:

1. Chest discomfort or pain: This can be one of the first and most telling signs of heart problems. The pain or discomfort can be described as pressure, tightness, burning, or even a mild pain. Any chest pains should be taken very seriously and reported to a doctor as soon as possible.
2. Shortness of breath: When the heart is not pumping effectively, blood can become backed up in the lungs and can cause difficulty in breathing. The shortness of breath may occur after any physical activity or even when at rest.
3. Tiredness or fatigue: Feeling tired all of the time or having difficulty with normal day-to-day activities such as climbing stairs, carrying groceries, etc. can also be a sign of a heart problem.
4. Fast heart rate: When the heart has a loss in pumping capacity, it will start beating faster to make up for it.
5. Swelling and/or weight gain: When your heart isn’t functioning properly, fluids can start building up in your body leading to edema (swelling) in the feet, ankles, legs, fingers, and stomach which can also lead to weight gain. 

Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Knowing major risk factors for heart disease can help us take better care of ourselves to prevent problems down the road. Some factors, such as age and family history, are out of our control. However, there are several others that can be managed by healthy choices. Some of these factors are:

1. High blood pressure (Hypertension)
2. High cholesterol
3. Diabetes
4. Smoking
5. Obesity (as well as low physical activity)
6. Stress
7. Alcohol

Awareness is the first step in making healthier choices. Diet, exercise, and staying up-to-date with doctor visits to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall health can prolong your life and keep your heart healthy.

Daily Actions to Better Your Heart

The American Heart Association lists “Life’s Essential 8” which are eight recommended steps to bettering your cardiovascular health. Following the measures listed below can help to reduce heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions.

1. Eat healthy- It is recommended to eat plentiful servings of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Avoid excess salt and sugar, saturated fats, processed or red meat, and highly processed foods.
2. Stay active- Adults should do at least 2.5 hours of moderate activity daily.
3. No smoking- Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Smoking narrows your arteries, raises your blood pressure, and causes plaque in the arteries.
4. Sleep/rest- Adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night.
5. Maintaining a healthy weight- Carrying extra weight can increase your risk of heart disease.
6. Control cholesterol- High levels of cholesterol cause plaque buildup in arteries. Eating a healthy diet can help manage your bad cholesterol. You should also have your cholesterol levels checked by your doctor to monitor them.
7. Watch blood sugar- Monitor your hemoglobin A1C levels with your doctor to make sure levels are within normal range.
8. Monitoring blood pressure- High blood pressure strains the heart. Manage stress and make sure to take your prescribed blood pressure medications to keep your blood pressure levels controlled.

By incorporating these American Heart Association recommendations in your day to day life, you can live a longer and healthier life!

With February being National Heart Month, it’s a great time to acknowledge heart issues and educate yourself on daily changes to make in your life to improve your heart health. However, focusing on your heart should be a focus for every month in the year. By knowing warning signs, recognizing the risk factors, and making better choices, you have the opportunity to live a healthy life with a strong heart for years to come!