Adult health promotion: Heart health
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the largest major killer of American males and females. Heart disease alone makes up more than half of all cardiovascular events in men and women under age 75. In 2004, 20 percent of all deaths were caused by CHD. About every 26 seconds, an American will suffer a coronary event, and about every minute someone will die from one.
(source: "Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2008 Update," American Heart Association)
Who is at risk for a heart attack?
Everyone has a slight risk of having a heart attack. There are several factors that increase that risk -- some of these you can change, others you can't.
Factors you cannot change are age, gender, heredity, race, previous cardiac problems, early menopause, and certain chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Factors you can change that will decrease your risk of heart attack are: smoking, high blood pressure, overweight, poor nutrition, high cholesterol levels, stress, elevated blood sugars, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Most heart attacks occur between 4 and 10 a.m. -- your body produces increased amounts of adrenalin as you wake up from sleep -- this can sometimes trigger a heart attack.
Top of page
What is the difference between a heart attack and a stroke?
A heart attack affects the heart whereas a stroke affects the brain.
Most heart attacks and strokes occur when the supply of blood is significantly reduced or shut off from a portion of the heart or the brain. Most of the time it is a blood clot that becomes lodged in a narrow spot of a blood vessel of the heart or brain. If the blood supply is not restored fast enough then a portion of the heart or brain dies.
Top of page
What are heart attack symptoms?
- 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.
Women are more likely to dismiss or put off symptoms for a longer period of time before getting help.
Silent heart attack: There are heart attacks that occur without any warning symptoms. These are called silent heart attacks. (Famous Russian figure skater Sergei Grinkov died of cardiac arrest after suffering an apparent silent heart attack during a skating practice.) Some heart attacks may be associated with "atypical' symptoms, symptoms such as heartburn, nausea or sudden light-headedness and sweating. These are more common in women, diabetics and people older than 65.
Top of page
What tests check one's risk for a heart attack?
- Get your blood pressure checked periodically.
- Get your cholesterol checked (Health Risk Assessment Clinic).
- Check your weight.
- Angiogram -- looks for blocked arteries (ordered by a physician if you are having symptoms.)
- Heart scan -- MRI that looks for calcium deposits in the blood vessels around heart. The calcium deposits indicate a narrowing of the blood vessel.
- Electro cardiogram -- checks the impulses that control heart muscles (ordered by a physician.)
- Evaluate your own lifestyle:
- Do you get enough exercise?
- Do you experience a great amount of stress?
- Do you eat a heart healthy balanced diet?
Top of page
What can someone do to help prevent a heart attack?
- Stop smoking (Stop Smoking Programs and resources.)
- Eat a heart healthy balanced diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Keep blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugars under control.
- Start a regular exercise program.
- Learn how to reduce or manage stress.
- Include activities into your day that can improve your heart health such as gardening, walking, house cleaning, stair climbing, etc.
- Get regular medical checkups.
Top of page
What should you do if you think you are having a heart attack?
- Stop whatever you're doing and sit down or lie down.
- If someone is with you, let them know what is happening and allow them to help you.
- If your symptoms do not get better within two minutes or if symptoms get worse, call 911 immediately. If someone is with you, have them call 911.
- If someone is with you, have them get you an aspirin to take unless you are allergic to aspirin.
- Wait for emergency help to arrive.
- If you can get to the hospital faster by car, have someone drive you. Do not drive yourself to the hospital unless there is no other option.
- When you get to the hospital, do not permit emergency room personnel to keep you waiting. Tell them that you may be suffering from heart attack and that you need to be seen immediately.
There is a significant decrease in heart damage if you can get treatment within an hour after onset of symptoms.
Top of page
Amazing facts
- An adult heart is about the size of a clenched fist.
- The heart beats approximately 100,000 times each day, pumping roughly 8,000 liters of blood.
- One drop of blood contains a half a drop of plasma, 5 million red blood cells, 10,000 white blood cells and 250,000 platelets.
- Your blood carries nutrients, water, oxygen and waste products to and from your body cells.
- An adult has over 60 thousand miles of blood vessels. If stretched end to end, your blood vessels would wrap around the earth at the equator more than twice.
- Keep your heart healthy ... it's going to have to beat about 3 billion times during your lifetime!
Top of page
For more information, contact:
Bloomington Public Health Division
1900 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431
PH: 952-563-8900 V/TTY
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Interpreters and transportation information are available upon request.
|
