Heart Health Month

 

We’re all very familiar with this story; Valentine’s Day is February 14th.  It comes every year without fail and proclaims ‘love’ to everyone.  Whether you have someone to share this day with or not, EVERYONE has somebody to love.  Your heart.  Your heart gives unconditionally until it cannot give anymore.  It’s time that you do the same for it.

 

February is Heart Health Awareness Month.  The forefront organization in leading the way to bring heart disease to light is the American Heart Association.  The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency that helps reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.  They created “National Wear Red Day” on February 7th along with “Go Red For Women” to raise awareness of heart disease in women.  You can read more about “Go Red For Women” at their official website, www.goredforwomen.org/.

 

Over the next month, there will be a three part series of posts that highlight the disease, exercise for heart disease and nutrition for heart disease.  To make sure you don’t miss any of them, feel free to subscribe to the blog from the home page.

 

Part 1: WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE

 

Being that today, February 7th, is “National Wear Red Day” it’s only fitting that we talk about heart disease in women.

 

Heart disease and heart attacks are generally thought of as a “man’s disease”.  This is not the case.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, accounting for 1 in every 3 female deaths (2).  Despite heart disease being the leading cause of death in women, only 54% of women recognize heart disease as their number #1 killer (1).

 
What is heart disease?

       

    • Heart Attack – blood flow to the heart is reduced severely or cut off completely.  (4)
    • Arrhythmia – abnormal heart rhythm that may feel like fluttering or a brief pause. (3)
    • Heart Failure – chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body. (6)
    • Stroke – a blood vessel going to the brain is blocked. (7)

 
Common Myths of Heart Disease, Men & Women
 
Most of the female related deaths are a result of misconceptions on symptoms and who heart disease can affect (see above).(5)
 

Myth #1: Heart disease is for old people.

Myth #2: Heart disease won’t affect the fit.

Myth #3: Heart disease is for men.

Myth #4: You don’t have any symptoms.

Myth #5: Heart disease runs in my family and there’s nothing you can do about it.

 

What are some of the symptoms?

 
Most of the common areas and signs of a heart attack (1):

    • Chest: dull to heavy chest pain.
    • Indigestion, heartburn and nausea/vomiting.
    • Extreme fatigue
    • Shortness of breath
    • Pain in the neck/jaw/throat, upper abdomen or back.

 
Here’s where women differ (1):

    • Women are more likely to describe chest pain that is a sharp burn rather then dull and heavy.
    • Women more frequently have pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen or back.

 
In some cases there are no symptoms at all.   Almost two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have had no previously reported symptoms.(1)
 
This raises the importance of getting screened by your doctor for high blood pressure and high cholesterol and continue to get regular check ups.  This way you can catch potential health issues before they arise.
 
What can you do?
 

You can manage your modifiable risk factors for heart disease.  These risk factors are ones that you can go out and do something about!

 

  • Physical Activity/Exercise.
  • Cigarette Smoking.
  • Alcohol Consumption
  • Obesity
  •  

    1) Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Accessed on February, 7, 2014.  From http://www.cdc.org/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_women_heart.htm
    2) American Heart Association.  Accessed on February, 7, 2014.  From https://www.goredforwomen.org/about-heart-disease/facts_about_heart_disease_in_women-sub-category/statistics-at-a-glance/
    3) American Heart Association. (2012).  Answers By the Heart.  http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300290.pdf.
    4) American Heart Association.  “Heart Attack”.  Accessed on February 7, 2014.  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/AboutHeartAttacks/About-Heart-Attacks_UCM_002038_Article.jsp.
    5) Common Myths About Heart Disease. American Heart Association. Accessed on February 7, 2014. https://www.goredforwomen.org/about-heart-disease/facts_about_heart_disease_in_women-sub-category/myths-about-heart-disease/
    6) About Heart Failure.  American Heart Association.  Accessed on February, 7, 2014.  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/AboutHeartFailure/About-Heart-Failure_UCM_002044_Article.jsp
    7) What is Stroke.  American Heart Association.  Accessed on February 7, 2014.  http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/About-Stroke_UCM_308529_SubHomePage.jsp

     

    Brent

    Brent

    President, Personal Training Manager at Body By Brent LLC
    Brent
    Brent
    Brent