February is American Hearth Month

Since 1963 Congress has required the President to proclaim February "American Heart Month" in order to urge Americans to join the battle against these diseases, Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and is also a major cause of disability. The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease, which often leads to a heart attack. In 2008, an estimated 770,000 Americans will have a new heart attack, and about 430,000 will have a recurring attack. About every 26 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.

There are many ways to reduce your risks for developing heart disease. You can prevent or control the factors that put people at risk for disease. Furthermore, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are important in order to have the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack.

Healthy Lifestyle: Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

Having a nutritionally balanced diet and being physically active are two of the most important things you can do to prevent heart disease. You can make some simple choices that will have a large impact on your health.

• Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.
• Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products.
• Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day.
• Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
• Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (or less than 1,500 mg if you are in a higher risk group for high blood pressure).
• If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man.
• Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both!  Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.    
• Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving.    
• Stand up while talking on the telephone.    
• Walk the dog.
• Park farther away at the shopping mall and walk the extra distance.  Wear your walking shoes and sneak in an extra lap or two around the mall.
• Stretch to reach items in high places and squat or bend to look at items at floor level.    

Know Your Signs and Symptoms

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense; however, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. 
• Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

More Information
For more information about heart disease please visit the following resources.
American Heart Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Heart, Lung, and Blood

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The White House