Love Your Heart
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills 930,000 Americans each year, which is more than the next five causes of death combined. In fact, someone dies from heart disease every 34 seconds. An organ with this much importance obviously deserves extra special care and attention.
There is no escape from the risk of heart disease. We all need to take charge of our health and encourage loved ones to do the same. The University of Pennsylvania Health System, a nationally recognized leader in heart care, is dedicated to providing our patients with the most advanced and comprehensive treatments.
At Penn Cardiac Care, doctors and staff educate all patients about their risks of heart disease and promote prevention and early treatment. Our team offers the most comprehensive heart care program in the region, with the latest in innovative research, prevention and treatment options.
You Can Prevent Heart Disease
The good news is that heart disease is usually preventable. It is important to know the risk factors for developing heart disease and to learn how to control them. The most common treatable risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
You can reduce your chances of developing heart disease by limiting or eliminating these factors from your life.
Healthy Habits
While smoking is the most important reversible risk factor for heart disease, it can be tough to “break the habit.” Smoking is a factor in half of heart attacks in women. If you smoke, your risk of stroke or heart attack is increased by two to four times over someone who doesn’t smoke. If you quit smoking, your risk returns to that of a non-smoker in three to five years. Many patients cannot completely quit without support, and our cardiologists are focused on helping you with this issue.
Regulating your eating and exercise habits, along with controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol, can help keep you healthy for a long time.
There are simple things you can do to improve your diet:
- Eat at least five fruits and vegetables every day.
- Eat a variety of grain products (cereals with whole grains, brown rice, and whole wheat breads and pastas).
- Switch to skim milk and low fat dairy products. Many people can make the switch by doing so gradually (for example, mixing 2% and skim milk).
- Try to eat fish at least twice a week.
Exercise is also a vital element in maintaining a healthy heart. The American Heart Association suggests 30 minutes of walking (or other form of aerobic activity) three to four times per week.
Keep your blood pressure within a reasonable range. If your blood pressure is 120 over 80 or higher, you should take steps to lower it. Weight loss, alcohol abstinence and medication are all important in lowering blood pressure. You should talk to your doctor about the best methods for you. Cholesterol levels are also important for your heart. When getting your total cholesterol checked, it should be below 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood. If your reading is at 240 mg/dc or above, your risk level for heart disease is more than twice that of someone with a healthy level of cholesterol. Luckily, there are many ways to decrease your cholesterol levels including weight loss, exercise, and medication.
Women: Take Extra Caution
It is important to know that diagnosing heart disease is more challenging in women than in men. Because symptoms may be different than those we see on television or in the movies, knowing the warning signs is significant for women’s health. If you have any of the following symptoms, it may be a sign of a heart attack:
- Pressure or discomfort in your chest
- Pain in the arms, neck, back, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
- Sudden feeling of severe weakness
If these symptoms do occur, time is of the essence. Call 911 immediately and get an examination. Do not ignore warning signs, because delay can make the situation much worse. Take care of your heart now so that it will be healthy for life.
Reviewed by Susan E. Wiegers, MD, FACC, FASE
July 2006
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