Heart Disease and You: How is your ticker?

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a myocardial infarction, better known as a heart attack. Heart disease is still the Number 1 cause of death in America, causing one in five deaths.

One underreported fact is that adults often experience different symptoms during a heart attack. While people of both genders may feel uncomfortable pressure or pain in the center of the chest, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness, women also report different symptoms. They include:

• Anxiety
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in the shoulder, back or arm
• Unusual tiredness and weaknessUpper back pressure or a feeling of constriction

Protect Yourself

Fortunately, heart disease is preventable. The first step is to know your numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol and your body mass index, which is a guideline for determining if you are at a healthy weight. If your doctor finds that any of these metrics show you are risk for heart disease, there are steps you can take to lower your risk. They include:

• Quit smoking or vaping. Just one year after you quit, you will cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50%.
• Step up the activity. Even moderate exercise such as walking helps strengthen your heart muscle, lowers blood pressure, raises “good” cholesterol levels, helps reduce inflammation and manages blood sugar and insulin levels.
• Lose the excess weight. Being overweight or obese makes your heart work harder and increases your blood pressure. It also raises triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood that can contribute to fatty deposits in the blood vessels. If the cholesterol buildup gets too thick, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
• Adopt a heart-healthy diet. Include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, nuts and seeds in your diet. Limit processed foods, added sugars, sodium and alcohol.

The American Heart Association has created a program called Life’s Essential 8™ that provides a blueprint for maintaining your cardiovascular health. Remember to check with your primary care provider before starting any lifestyle makeovers aimed at improving your health.