February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, so we would like
to share with you some tips to prevent heart disease and to understand the
symptoms of a heart attack. Heart
disease is a major problem in the US. According to the CDC, each year about 715,000
Americans have a heart attack and approximately 600,000 people die from heart
disease.
Prevention
Tips
- Eat
a healthy diet. Choosing healthful options can
help you avoid heart disease. Be
sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, foods low in salt, saturated
fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and high in fiber.
- Maintain
a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can
increase your risk for heart disease.
- Exercise
regularly. Physical activity can help you
maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The
Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity
exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Monitor
your blood pressure. High blood pressure often has
no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis.
- Don't
smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for
heart disease.
- Limit
alcohol use. Avoid drinking too much
alcohol, which can increase your blood pressure. Men should stick to no
more than two drinks per day, and women to no more than one.
- Have
your cholesterol checked. Your health care provider
should test your cholesterol levels at least once every 5 years.
Heart Attack Symptoms
The five major symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Pain
or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
- Feeling
weak, light-headed, or faint.
- Chest
pain or discomfort.
- Pain
or discomfort in arms or shoulder.
- Shortness
of breath.
- If
you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, call
9–1–1 immediately.
Lastly,
although heart disease is the nation's number one killer for both men and
women, realize you do have control in preventing it. According
to the Mayo Clinic, 80 percent of heart disease is preventable, and even small
lifestyle changes can have a big impact.