Here’s To A Healthy Heart

Here’s To A Healthy Heart.

February Is National Heart Month, The Right Time To Raise Your Awareness About Heart Disease

February is National Heart Month. That’s the reason ______ is devoting this issue to the topic of heart disease. It’s an extremely important health topic. Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of almost one million Americans every year. Almost 60 million Americans have heart disease and 50 million have high blood pressure, also called hypertension.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is the narrowing or blockage of the arteries or veins that provide oxygen and blood to the heart and body tissue. There are several different types of heart disease. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the most common types. Hypertension is often called the Silent Killer because it can go undetected for years. That’s the reason it’s so important for people to have their blood pressure checked regularly.

Atherosclerosis, another form of heart disease, is the buildup of cholesterol and calcium deposits (plaques) inside the lining of the arteries, causing less blood to flow through the arteries and less oxygen to reach body tissues. If atherosclerosis occurs in the brain it can cause a stroke. If it occurs in the legs or other parts of the body, the condition is called peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed. This can cause angina, usually experienced as a pressing or squeezing pain, often in the chest, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. If an artery is severely or completely blocked, then a heart attack can occur. (For the signs of a heart attack, please see “The Warning Signs” on page _.) Reduced blood flow to the heart may also cause abnormal changes in the heartbeats, called arrhythmias. It can also cause heart failure, which occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body’s organs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling in the feet, ankles and legs, and extreme tiredness.

How To Be Heart Smart

Heart disease is a sinister medical condition. The symptoms are often hard to detect. Indeed, there are millions of unsuspecting “healthy” people who are at high risk for heart disease because they have undiagnosed risk factors. The first step in the fight against heart disease is to have an annual physical with your primary care physician and have your blood pressure checked. Discuss with your physician the Nine Risk Factors for heart disease and how you can put together a plan of action to reduce your risk.

Here a few practical steps you can take to fight heart disease.

  • Limit your intake of fat and sugars
  • Try to avoid foods with saturated fats and trans fats
  • Limit your intake of sodium and salt
  • Eat plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products
  • Stop smoking
  • Start an exercise program that keeps you physically active 30 to 60 minutes a day
  • Choose meat and poultry that are lean and include more fish in your diet
  • If you drink, limit your intake to 1 -2 glasses a day

 

 

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