Aside from the Super Bowl, the most celebrated annual holiday in February is Valentine’s Day when candy, greeting cards and decorations are resplendent with hearts of countless shapes and sizes. However, while you’re busy trying to win someone else’s heart, you should always be mindful to take care of the heart that matters most to you.
February 2018 marks the 54th time that Heart Health Month will be celebrated in the U.S., encouraging you to live a longer, healthier life by taking great care of the most important and at-risk organ in your body.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., and also the leading cause of death worldwide. More than half of the deaths that occur as a result of heart disease are in men.
Sadly, individuals may not be diagnosed with heart disease until they have a heart attack, which is why everyone should learn and pay heed to the most common symptoms of heart disease including chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort. Also be on the lookout for shortness of breath, pain, numbness and weakness or coldness in legs or arms caused by narrowing of blood vessels in those parts of the body. Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back are also signs of a weakened heart, along with an abnormal heartbeat, which may cause dizziness and fainting.
Unfortunately, there are factors beyond our control that contribute to the greater likelihood of heart difficulties. As we age, the risk is greater for damaged and narrowed arteries resulting in weak or thickened heart muscles. A family history of heart disease can also play a significant role.
Thankfully, there are numerous things we can all do to lessen the odds of heart failure. Since nicotine constricts blood vessels and carbon monoxide can damage their lining, not smoking is one of the most important strategies you can adopt to avoid heart disease.
A diet with high amounts of salt, sugar and fat leading to high cholesterol contributes to heart difficulties. That type of diet may lead to obesity, which also creates a higher risk of problems for your heart, so do all you can to eat properly and exercise 30 minutes each day.
If you’re prone to high blood pressure, see your primary care physician to learn ways to control it. Rampant high blood pressure may result in hardening and thickening of the arteries, making blood flow much more challenging, which leads to serious heart problems.
Many are not aware that poor hygiene and dental health contributes to heart disease. Be sure to wash your hands and bathe regularly to prevent viral and bacterial infections that can create dangerous infections in your heart. That situation is made more problematic if you’ve developed an undetected heart condition.
Another way to avoid heart disease is to find ways to minimize stress in your life. While stress in and of itself is not proven to cause heart ailments, the amount of stress you experience and how you react to it can lead to a wide variety of health and heart problems.
When you experience stress for long periods of time, your mind and body remains in maximum activity, which causes some people to drink too much alcohol, which can increase blood pressure and may damage the artery walls. Stressful situations are the catalyst for your body to release adrenaline that causes your breathing and heart rate to accelerate and your blood pressure to skyrocket. Methods to combat stress include lots of exercise, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and developing a positive attitude.
If you have concerns or questions about heart disease or are in need of a primary care physician for yourself or someone else, please call 317-880-8687 or visit www.eskenazihealth.edu/doctors.
Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Family Medicine Physician at Eskenazi Health