February is Heart Health Month
February is a month dedicated to the heart – in more ways than one. This is the time to celebrate love and give your sweetheart a valentine. This is also the month to wear red and call attention to prevention of the No. 1 killer of women – heart disease.
During February, the American Heart Association wants people to “Go Red for Women” by wearing something red or a special pin to raise awareness of heart disease. The campaign is a call for women to take charge of their heart health.
The campaign has three basic health messages.
First, know your risk factors for heart disease and stroke, which include obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking and high blood pressure. Second, reduce your risk. - Maintain a desirable weight. Keep body mass index (BMI) below 25 and waistline less than 35 inches.
- Exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Don’t smoke; if you do, stop.
- Eat a balanced diet (fruits, vegetables, cereal and grain products, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, legumes, nuts, fish, poultry and lean meat).
- Maintain a total cholesterol level under 200 and an HDL level of 50 or higher.
- Control your blood pressure. Try to keep it below 120/80.
- Schedule regular visits with your doctor.
Third, know the warning signs of heart attack. Call 911 immediately if you experience: - Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body: one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath: often comes along with chest discomfort, but it can occur before the discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
