Great People Great Service Great Care

Heart Disease Still Number One
Killer of Americans

A Health Message from Wagoner Community Hospital

(February 1. 2012) Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in this country. It accounts for more than one in every four American deaths. For almost 50 years, February has been recognized as American Heart Month in order to focus attention on our nation’s number one health concern.

Heart attacks and strokes are life and death emergencies where every second counts. WCH encourages people to get the facts about how lifestyle choices affect heart disease risks so they can focus on prevention. Because of this nation’s obesity epidemic, clinicians have begun seeing signs of heart disease in children. There is no time to waste when it comes to making the lifestyle changes that will reduce your risks of developing heart disease or slow the progression of the disease if you already have a problem.

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is a simple term used to describe several problems related to atherosclerosis, or the build-up of plaque on the walls of the arteries. As the plaque builds up, the arteries narrow and the heart must work harder to pump blood through the restricted arteries. In time, the arteries can become completely blocked and a heart attack or stroke can occur.

Heart disease risk factors like heredity and age cannot be altered, but a number of significant risk factors can be reduced through therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC):

Quit smoking – smokers have more than twice the risk for heart disease as a nonsmoker and are much more likely to die if they have a heart attack.

Improve cholesterol levels – generally the recommendation is to maintain a total cholesterol level of less than 200, an LDL / “bad” level of less than 160 and a HDL / “good” cholesterol level of more than 40. A diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol can help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Exercise can help increase beneficial HDL cholesterol in the blood. If diet and exercise alone don’t work, medication may be prescribed.

Control high blood pressure – most people with high blood pressure will be on a treatment plan for life, unless they lose a significant amount of weight. Typically, more than two readings of 140/90 or greater is enough for a diagnosis of high blood pressure. However, when treating people with conditions like diabetes, physicians often set lower blood pressure targets such as 120/80 or less.

Get active – Include regular exercise in your daily routine. Health experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most – or all – days of the week. If necessary, the 30 minute time can be split into three 10-minute exercise sessions. Exercise doesn’t need to involve a gym or complicated machinery. Even brisk walking provides benefits in terms of reducing heart disease risks, shedding excess pounds and controlling stress.

Eat right – Enjoy a heart healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in saturated fats and items high in cholesterol.

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight – Excess weight puts increased strain on your heart. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, visit with your doctor or an exercise physiologist to outline a plan of gradually increasing activity levels combined with a healthy eating plan.

Manage stress and anger – Try yoga, meditation, setting aside “me time” for relaxation, or whatever works for you to find an effective way to deal with the stress in your life without getting angry or upset.

Control diabetes – If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, follow the treatment plan to carefully control blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage the heart and lead to heart attack or stroke.

One relatively new recommendation from the health community is the need for regular hearing checks for anyone with heart disease. There is a definite link between hearing loss and heart disease. This is attributed to the extreme sensitivity of the inner ear to blood flow. Likewise, people with hearing loss are encouraged to have a check-up to identify any developing or existing heart disease.

Heart Disease Still Number One Killer of Americans

Awards

Heart Disease Still Number One
Killer of Americans