Be heart-smart for the holiday

By Pat Mooney

As Valentine’s Day approaches, remember sweets for your sweetie, some flowers and maybe even a few candy hearts. But don’t forget to pay attention to the health of the heart that beats so fondly. Youthful indiscretion in matters of the heart (the physical one) leads to broken hearts (as in heart attacks) in later life.

Coronary Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. About 1.1 million people have a heart attack each year in this country and 460,000 die. Half die within the hour after the first symptoms begin and before they reach a hospital.
What are the factors that make an individual more likely to be one of the 1.1 million? Risk factors fall into two categories: those that you can do something about and those that you can’t. The latter includes a family history of heart disease, being a male and getting older. The controllable risk factors include cigarette smoking; sedentary lifestyle; improper diet; excess weight; stress; a hostile, aggressive attitude (even in youth); high blood pressure; high cholesterol and diabetes.

People with strong predisposition for CHD can greatly reduce their chances of developing it by adopting a ‘heart healthy’ lifestyle and the earlier one begins to do this the greater the benefit. Regular check ups are, of course part of this plan.

Likewise, people with no predisposing factors — young women with no family history of heart disease — virtually assure problems later on by adopting a ‘heart harmful’ lifestyle.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Web site (www.nhlbi.nih.gov) lists the following heart attack signs:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath. Often comes along with chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest discomfort.

Other symptoms. May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness.

Learn the signs, but also remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, you should still have it checked out. Call 911 if you think you might be having a heart attack. Fast action can save lives — maybe your own.

This Valentine’s Day, pay a bit of attention to your heart and your loved one’s too. Need help in adopting a heart healthy lifestyle? Want to stop smoking, start exercising, manage stress, eat better and so on? Call the health and wellness department at 525 6971 for information on these and other programs.

Mooney is a counselor in the health and wellness department. The Savannah College of Art and Design’s wellness plan includes the Bee Healthy program sponsored by HealthyOne. HealthyOne is part of the college’s healthcare plan with GHP/Memorial. For more information or to enroll, call HealthyOne at 350-6633.