February is American Heart Month to bring awareness to heart disease and help you and your family and friends learn what you can do to stay heart healthy.
First, take this quick quiz to find out how much you know about the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. After you complete the quiz, read on for some tips and resources.
Did you know that someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States? While chest pain may be the most well-known symptom of a heart attack, it’s not the only one and even more importantly, the signs can vary between men and women. Learning the difference can save a life.
“Recent studies suggest that women are more likely to describe feelings of shortness of breath, upper back pressure, and dizziness. It is imperative that women who are at high risk of having a heart attack know the other symptoms and seek medical care if they believe they’re having heart attack,” said Razvan Dadu, MD, an interventional cardiologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center.
But what can you do to prevent a heart attack or at the very least, lower your risk factor? Review this checklist first to get a better idea of your own risk factor. Once you make an initial assessment of your personal heart health, you can then set up a more formal risk assessment.
And no matter what, be sure you are taking daily steps toward preventing cardiac disease. Dr. Dadu recommends 30 minutes of physical activity each day. That’s easy to do by just taking a brisk walk (in air-conditioned comfort) at Memorial City Mall or around City Centre. Want a more structured exercise routine like a gym or instructor led class? Not to worry, The District has so many options – just check out all that is available!
In addition to exercise, be sure you are eating a heart healthy diet and that’s also not hard to do in The District. Grab fresh ingredients at H-E-B, pick up a healthy meal to go from Snap Kitchen or try a fortified smoothie from Red Mango. If you’d rather dine out then check out the menus at Bellagreen or Zoe’s Kitchen.
It goes without saying that you should also quit or avoid smoking. Above all though, remember, it’s never too late to change your habits. For more information and additional resources on heart health and as well as treatment options available at Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Memorial City, visit their website.
*About 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year—that’s 1 of every 4 deaths.