Getting to the heart of the matter
By Callie Wight, MA, RN
February 14, 2016
February 14, 2016
Don’t you think that February is an interesting month? For such a short month, we pack a lot into it.
We have the proverbial Ground Hog Day on February 2nd (which has very ancient roots by the way—but that’s a tale for another time); Christian Candlemas shares the 2nd; National Wear Red Day on February 5th; a new moon for the Chinese New Year of the Monkey on the 8th; Mardi Gras; Ash Wednesday and all kinds of Presidents’ birthdays--- all these fall in the short month of February. This year, being a Leap Year, February has one little extra day. And that, of course, means that women can ask men to marry them in 2016, if you are a traditionalist, that is.
Perhaps most meaningful for our health, though, is that all of February is American Heart Month.
All info below is garnered from American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/;
American Stroke Association http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/)
Facts about Heart Disease
While the statistics are grim---more than one in three adults has some form of cardiovascular disease; heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and stroke is the No. 5 cause of death---the good news is that 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented.
PREVENTION
Knowledge and life style adaptations are the key in prevention and recovery for both heart disease and stroke. The lifestyle recommendations are essentially the same for both cardiovascular disease and stroke. Plus, what helps our hearts can help our brains making a big difference in our mental abilities as we age.
So that makes it simple for us, right?
Life’s Simple 7. Learn more about “Life’s Simple 7” and take action with MyLifeCheck from the American Heart Association https://www.goredforwomen.org/live-healthy/first-steps-to-prevent-heart-disease-and-be-heart-healthy/lifes-simple-7/
1. Get active
2. Control cholesterol
3. Eat better (Registration open for the Eat Well Challenge http://blog.heart.org/registration-open-for-the-eat-well-challenge/
3A: The Eat Well Challenge celebrates American Heart Month by encouraging participants to eat a heart-healthy meal at least once a day throughout all of February.
3B: Registration is available now on the Eat Well Challenge website for those who want to be entered for the prize drawing.
4. Manage blood pressure
5. Lose weight
6. Reduce blood sugar
7. Stop smoking
And know your numbers!
So what is this tangled mess of cardiovascular diseases and stroke?
Here is a little primer.
Heart Attack
Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. This may last for days! Often people aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Both men and women tend to delay seeking treatment which can lead to poor outcomes. Sometimes the symptoms are not terribly pronounced and folks can be a bit embarrassed to go to the emergency room and find out that it’s only indigestion or anxiety.
Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain
How is heart attack different in women?
You are likely aware that women’s symptoms of heart attack are often not the same as men’s. Women survive the event less frequently than men. This is thought to be for several reasons, not the least of which is that generally the blood vessels in a woman’s heart are smaller than that in a man’s; hence, a blockage can be more severe.
Heart Attack Signs in Women
My all-time favorite patient education handout; you’ve seen this from me before but it’s worth looking at again. http://pcna.net/patients---preventive-cardiovascular-nurses-association/women-heart-disease
Follow this link for your risk assessment. https://www.goredforwomen.org/know-your-risk/find-out-your-risk/heart-checkup/
Check out this great little you-tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7wmPWTnDbE
Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Failure
People often use these terms interchangeably, but they are not synonyms. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Remember this may come on over days. Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly. A heart attack is a “circulation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem. Both of these are emergency situations. About Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can't keep up with its workload. (You may know it as Congestive Heart Failure where the lungs are involved as well as the heart).
And then there is Stroke! http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females. African-Americans have nearly twice the risk for a first-ever stroke than Caucasians and a much higher death rate from stroke.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.
What is a TIA?
TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a “minor or mini stroke” that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short time. The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. About 15 percent of major strokes are preceded by TIAs, so don’t ignore a TIA. Call 9-1-1 or seek emergency medical attention immediately!
F.A.S.T. Identify and intervene in stroke quickly. The quicker the intervention occurs the better the chance to minimize brain cell death. Know the symptoms:
F: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly
T: Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Watch the F.A.S.T. hip hop song video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyzwfsdd4AE
Beyond F.A.S.T. – Other Stroke Symptoms You Should Know and call 911 right away
View or Download this Wellness Note (PDF File)
We have the proverbial Ground Hog Day on February 2nd (which has very ancient roots by the way—but that’s a tale for another time); Christian Candlemas shares the 2nd; National Wear Red Day on February 5th; a new moon for the Chinese New Year of the Monkey on the 8th; Mardi Gras; Ash Wednesday and all kinds of Presidents’ birthdays--- all these fall in the short month of February. This year, being a Leap Year, February has one little extra day. And that, of course, means that women can ask men to marry them in 2016, if you are a traditionalist, that is.
Perhaps most meaningful for our health, though, is that all of February is American Heart Month.
All info below is garnered from American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/;
American Stroke Association http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/)
Facts about Heart Disease
While the statistics are grim---more than one in three adults has some form of cardiovascular disease; heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and stroke is the No. 5 cause of death---the good news is that 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented.
PREVENTION
Knowledge and life style adaptations are the key in prevention and recovery for both heart disease and stroke. The lifestyle recommendations are essentially the same for both cardiovascular disease and stroke. Plus, what helps our hearts can help our brains making a big difference in our mental abilities as we age.
So that makes it simple for us, right?
Life’s Simple 7. Learn more about “Life’s Simple 7” and take action with MyLifeCheck from the American Heart Association https://www.goredforwomen.org/live-healthy/first-steps-to-prevent-heart-disease-and-be-heart-healthy/lifes-simple-7/
1. Get active
2. Control cholesterol
3. Eat better (Registration open for the Eat Well Challenge http://blog.heart.org/registration-open-for-the-eat-well-challenge/
3A: The Eat Well Challenge celebrates American Heart Month by encouraging participants to eat a heart-healthy meal at least once a day throughout all of February.
3B: Registration is available now on the Eat Well Challenge website for those who want to be entered for the prize drawing.
4. Manage blood pressure
5. Lose weight
6. Reduce blood sugar
7. Stop smoking
And know your numbers!
- Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL
- HDL (good or “Happy”) cholesterol 50 mg/dL or higher
- LDL (bad or “Lousy”) cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL
- Triglycerides 150 mg/dL
- Blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg
- Body Mass Index less than 25 kg/m2
- Waist circumference less than 35 in.
So what is this tangled mess of cardiovascular diseases and stroke?
Here is a little primer.
Heart Attack
Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. This may last for days! Often people aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Both men and women tend to delay seeking treatment which can lead to poor outcomes. Sometimes the symptoms are not terribly pronounced and folks can be a bit embarrassed to go to the emergency room and find out that it’s only indigestion or anxiety.
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 with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain
How is heart attack different in women?
You are likely aware that women’s symptoms of heart attack are often not the same as men’s. Women survive the event less frequently than men. This is thought to be for several reasons, not the least of which is that generally the blood vessels in a woman’s heart are smaller than that in a man’s; hence, a blockage can be more severe.
Heart Attack Signs in Women
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
My all-time favorite patient education handout; you’ve seen this from me before but it’s worth looking at again. http://pcna.net/patients---preventive-cardiovascular-nurses-association/women-heart-disease
Follow this link for your risk assessment. https://www.goredforwomen.org/know-your-risk/find-out-your-risk/heart-checkup/
Check out this great little you-tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7wmPWTnDbE
Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Failure
People often use these terms interchangeably, but they are not synonyms. A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Remember this may come on over days. Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly. A heart attack is a “circulation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem. Both of these are emergency situations. About Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can't keep up with its workload. (You may know it as Congestive Heart Failure where the lungs are involved as well as the heart).
And then there is Stroke! http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females. African-Americans have nearly twice the risk for a first-ever stroke than Caucasians and a much higher death rate from stroke.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.
What is a TIA?
TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a “minor or mini stroke” that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short time. The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. About 15 percent of major strokes are preceded by TIAs, so don’t ignore a TIA. Call 9-1-1 or seek emergency medical attention immediately!
F.A.S.T. Identify and intervene in stroke quickly. The quicker the intervention occurs the better the chance to minimize brain cell death. Know the symptoms:
F: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly
T: Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Watch the F.A.S.T. hip hop song video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyzwfsdd4AE
Beyond F.A.S.T. – Other Stroke Symptoms You Should Know and call 911 right away
- Sudden NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
- Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
View or Download this Wellness Note (PDF File)
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These websites are also wonderful for facts and tips:
WOMEN MEN & WOMEN Living Guidelines for Women: What you need to know |
