Heart Disease: Get the Facts

With over one millions heart attacks occurring each year, heart disease has become the number one killer of men and women in the United States.  Almost half of these heart attacks are fatal and occur within one hour of the onset of symptoms, and before the person can get to the hospital. 

Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.  Often, people aren’t sure what’s happening during one and wait too long before getting help.  The most common signs of a heart attack include:  Chest discomfort, upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat or lightheadedness.

There are multiple risk factors associated with heart disease.  Some are controllable, while others are not.  Uncontrollable risk factors include gender, age, family history, post-menopausal and race.  Controllable factors include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and obesity.  Uncontrolled diabetes, stress and anger are also risk factors.

If you or someone you are with thinks you are having a heart attack, call 911 or get to a hospital immediately!  Do not wait longer than five minutes before calling for help.  Many people wait too long and that can be a fatal mistake.  Misunderstanding the symptoms of a heart attack, fear of admitting symptoms could be serious, embarrassment about “causing a scene”, thinking it’s a false alarm and underestimating the potential problems of not getting to a hospital right away are a few reasons why people wait to call.

A few ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease are:

• STOP SMOKING!  Smokers have twice the risk of non-smokers.
• Control high blood pressure
• Lower your cholesterol
• Maintain a healthy weight
• GET ACTIVE!  Step, march or jog in place for at least 15 minutes a day while watching TV.
• Control diabetes
• Manage stress and anger
• Eat Right.

PMG will be participating in the 2004 OKC American Heart Walk in April to continue to support the efforts against heart disease!