FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH

American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day are both observed this month. What a wonderful way to double up on your heart health efforts for yourself and your loved ones!

Did you know?

• Heart attacks can be silent - one in five heart attacks occur without the person even knowing they had one.

• Heart attack symptoms can differ between men and women. Women may experience abdominal pain and epigastric burning, pain in the back, arm, neck, or shoulder; nausea; fatigue; shortness of breath; and vomiting whereas men may experience sweating, pain in the chest, arms, neck, or jaw; shortness of breath; heartburn or indigestion.

• Young women are more likely to die from heart attacks than similarly aged men because they do not recognize the symptoms, so they delay care and treatment.

• Maintaining a healthy diet consisting of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy sources of protein and minimizing processed foods is one of the best things you can do to support a healthy heart.

You can take an active role in reducing your risk for heart disease by eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, and managing your cholesterol and blood pressure. This is a wonderful opportunity to start heart-healthy habits!

• Start a heart-healthy habit - staying active, eating healthy, and watching our weight are all important parts of maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. Pick a new heart-healthy habit like jogging or substituting sodas with water and try to stick to it for a whole month.

• Educate yourself – learn about the risk factors for heart disease, the ways you can prevent them, and the lifestyle choices that can help you stay healthy.

• Get your cholesterol evaluated - If you are worried you might be at risk for heart disease, ask your doctor to perform a simple cholesterol test to let you know if you are at risk and should adjust your diet.