ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --
February is the month of love. It is also the month of heart heath.
It is no coincidence that these two coincide. Nothing shows your valentine that you love them more than taking care of your heart health. By keeping your heart healthy, you can give your partner a gift like no other - time and presence.
Heart disease can be many different conditions that negatively affect your heart. These include blood vessel disease, irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, and disease of the heart muscles. Most can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices. Heart disease is very common in men, women and people of all racial and ethnic groups. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States was caused by heart disease. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, heart attack deaths were trending downward in the United States, but the pandemic appears to have reversed the progress, according to research from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Furthermore, heart disease in young adults has also surged since COVID-19. Many young people are now on beta blockers and are at risk of heart attack and stroke. According to a September 2022 study by Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, there is a major risk of heart disease following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
For COVID-19 survivors, the risk of developing a heart condition even a year after infection, regardless of how severe symptoms were, is substantial, according to a 2022 study of more than 150,000 individuals with COVID-19. The risk increases even for people who don't have any other risk factors for heart disease.
So, what causes heart disease and how do we prevent it? There are many factors that can play a role in heart disease. Some general causes include:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Stress/mental health
- Lack of exercise
- Unhealthy diets
- High blood pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Smoking
- Family history
- Illegal drugs such as cocaine
- Excessive caffeine or alcohol
- Heart conditions present at birth
- Some medications or supplements
Possible complications of heart disease include:
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Aneurysm
- Peripheral artery disease
- Sudden cardiac arrest
There are many ways to manage and prevent heart disease as well as lead an overall healthier lifestyle:
- Don’t smoke
- Diets that are low in salts and saturated fats
- Regular checkups
- Exercise daily
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Reduce and manage stress
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
- Getting between 7-9 hours of daily sleep
By including these in your daily activities, you can lead a much healthier lifestyle. It is extremely important to track any changes within your body, big or small. It is also imperative to attend regular checkups with your primary care provider and let them know of any changes.
Because heart disease is the leading cause of death, it is extremely important to know what to do in the event of someone around you having a medical emergency. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. CPR can be the lifesaving skill that keeps someone’s heart beating during a cardiac event. According to the American Heart Association, fewer than half of people suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate CPR they need before professional help arrives. Approximately 90% of the 350,000 people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year will not survive. Additionally, more than 23,000 children suffer cardiac arrest annually, with nearly 40% happening in conjunction with sports-related activities.
This month we urge you to not only wear your red in support of heart health but to also take the steps to learn a lifesaving skill. You never know when it will be your time to step in and save a life.
How to learn CPR:
- Watch online: Learn the basics of Hands-Only CPR with the video found at www.heart.org/nation.
- Learn at home: Learn basic lifesaving skills in about 20 minutes from the comfort and privacy of home with the CPR Anytime® kits also found at www.heart.org/nation. The Infant CPR Anytime program is for new parents, grandparents, babysitters, nannies and anyone who wants to learn lifesaving infant CPR and choking relief skills. The Adult & Child CPR Anytime training kit teaches adults and teens Hands-Only CPR, child CPR with breaths, adult and child choking relief and general awareness of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs.
- Take a course:
- Quality CPR and First Aid in Manchester, TN
- Boo Boo Box First Aid, LLC in Tullahoma, TN
- EnjoyCPR (CPR & First Aid Certification) in Murfreesboro, TN
- CPR Direct in Murfreesboro, TN
Or go to www.redcross.org and search your location to find courses in your location as well as online courses.
Nothing says love like a healthy heart. Take care of your health, learn a lifesaving skill and spread awareness. Together, we can make a difference in our heart health.