February… the month of love, love, love! I am already making valentines for the ones I love. According to the American Heart Association I should also be making one for my own HEART? February is national heart month or “love your own heart month.” In honor of this, I will be writing to you (while wearing a fancy red top since Feb. 3rd is national wear red day) about what you need to know about heart disease and heart attacks.
First lets start off with this astounding fact…Heart disease is the #1 killer of Women. More than all forms of cancer combined!
Coronary Heart Disease is the most common type of heart disease. This disease occurs when plaque, a sticky mix of dead cells/tissues, builds up in the arteries. Increased plaque is thought to be worsened by factors like smoking, poor diet, high blood pressure, high levels of “bad’’ or LDL cholesterol, diabetes, and family history.
When you have a lot of plaque:
Eventually your vessles get so narrow (think of your drain at home if it gets clogged with hair) your heart is not getting enough oxygen rich blood to it. Plaque can also break off the walls of your vessels causing a clot to form. Clots can stop blood flow to your heart tissues and you will begin to experience symptoms of a heart attack.
Heart Attacks…
Are caused by a blockage/stoppage of the flow of your oxygenated blood to your heart. Your heart is no longer able to get oxygen and your heart muscle begins to die.
A heart attack feels like:
Signs and symptoms of a heart attacks can be different for each person. Chest pain/tightness is the symptom most shown by the media. On TV, you might see a person who is experiencing a heart attack grab their chest and falls to the ground. This is a true sign, however there are a number of other symptoms you should be aware of.
Fact: women tend to experience less typical symptoms of heart attacks than men.
More signs of heart attack include pressure, discomfort, or pain (can be constant or coming and going) in places like your:
- jaw
- upper back
- arms
- neck
- shoulders
Also:
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- nausea
- dizziness
- pain in stomach
- feelings of anxiety
- weakness or fatigue
- clamminess or sweating
- feeling heart flutters
- paleness
If you think you are having heart attack symptoms call 911, then crush or chew two aspirin to prevent more blood clots. DO NOT WAIT! Quick care will prevent further heart damage and increase your change of survival.
To read more about heart health check out the websites of Women Heart, and The American Heart Association.
In health,
Tara Arnold, RN
Arteries are red, veins are blue…I care about your heart, so please care about it too!
