Healthy Lifestyle Equals Healthier Heart

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of death in women. A healthy heart is important to prevent stroke, heart attack and death. By choosing a healthy lifestyle and keeping track of your blood pressure, you can help prevent cardiovascular disease, according to Suzanne Inglis, Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Assistant Vice President of Nursing/Cardiovascular and Surgical Services.

Changing Your Lifestyle

The number one thing that you should do to keep your heart healthy is to avoid all tobacco products. The second is to alter your lifestyle to include exercise: at least 30 minutes three times per week. Finally, you should begin to make healthy food choices: less fat and sugar in your diet. These changes in lifestyle can contribute significantly to reducing the risk of a heart attack.

The hardest part of keeping one’s heart healthy is to change one’s lifestyle.  It can be difficult to break lifelong habits.  For more information on cardiovascular disease, plan to attend the Fisher-Titus Healthy Heart Fair from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb.  4 in Fisher-Titus Snyder/White Heart & Vascular Center, 272 Benedict Ave., Norwalk.

During this event, you can gather the information tools you need to fight heart disease and become heart healthy. Fisher-Titus will provide a Cholesterol Profile for $15 to general public/$12 to Fisher-Titus PrimeCare Advantage Members. (Note: 12-hour fasting for best results, people with diabetes should consult physician before fasting.). Other screenings will include Blood Pressure, Link to Life Capsules, Body Composition Analysis and more. Appointments and fee required for Cholesterol Profile only, all other screenings are free.  Space is limited. To register, call 419-660-2646.

Managing Blood Pressure

Unmanaged high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular disease. A healthy blood pressure is one that is less than 120/80.

“A healthy heart needs a rich supply of oxygen to survive,” Inglis said. “The oxygen is delivered to the heart muscle by the blood that flows through the coronary arteries.”

When one of those vessels becomes blocked by plaque or a blood clot, the blood is blocked and oxygen cannot be delivered. The result is pain and a heart attack. The best chance for survival is to return oxygen to the heart as quickly as possible.

Signs of a Heart Attack

When one has a heart attack, the symptoms are not always as we have seen on TV or in the movies; sudden and intense.  Other symptoms include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, the neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort is also common. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Another sign that can be overlooked is overwhelming fatigue. It is also important to note that oftentimes women do not present with typical chest pain symptoms; fatigue, for example, may be their only symptom. If you have symptoms, don’t delay. Call 911!