Focus On The Facts Of Heart Health This February
American Heart Month is an ideal time to review heart health facts and consider steps everyone can take to reduce heart disease risk.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for Americans, related to one in four deaths overall. Risk factors include:
Being overweight due to poor diet or a lack of exercise
A family history of heart disease
High blood pressure and/or blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
Stress
“Heart health is an aspect of your yearly checkup with your primary care provider, so call to make this important appointment for 2024. Ask about any heart disease risk factors you might have and ways you can reduce your risk,” said interventional cardiologist John Wagener, MD, FACC, FSCAI, of North Central Heart, a division of the Avera Heart Hospital.
Initial screenings for cardiac health typically take place at your annual checkup and include tests for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Avera offers heart and vascular screenings that include CT calcium scoring and artery screenings in addition to blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks.
This screening is recommended for men 45 and older and women 50-55 and older. “A heart scan or other tests can provide peace of mind, or help your doctor best approach a condition sooner versus later,” Wagener said.
While you can’t change your genetics or family history, people can take action to prevent or lessen their risks:
Eat a diet low in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables each day
Be active. It’s optimal to get a total of 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week – 30 to 40 minutes four to five days a week. Aerobic exercise is exercise that increases your heart rate, such as brisk walking, running, dancing, cycling or swimming. Some exercise is better than none. For example, if you can’t exercise for 30 minutes a day, take a 10-minute walk as part of your routine and add to it.
Quit using tobacco. Consider using a cessation program for help.
Limit alcohol – no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
Take blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Find activities that reduce your stress. Do what works for you – relaxation techniques, deep breathing or a relaxing walk.
If you or a loved one experiences symptoms of a heart attack, don’t wait: call 911.
Chest pain or discomfort (pressure, squeezing or fullness) in the arms, back, neck, jaw or upper abdomen
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Sweating with cool, clammy skin
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Interventions to prevent further damage due to heart attack include the placement of primary stents or the administration of thrombolytic “clot-busting” drugs. “These treatments can save lives and heart muscle, but timing is important. It’s important to get help as soon as symptoms appear,” Wagener said.
Learn more at Avera.org/Heart
Michelle Pokorney | Public Relations manager
605-323-8090 | michelle.pokorney@avera.org