Heart Health

The key to surviving a heart attack is getting medical help early – nearly half of all deaths due to heart attack occur within 2 hours of the beginning of symptoms.

Keep in mind that not everyone experiences the same heart attack symptoms to the same degree – some older people and women can experience less obvious symptoms. Some heart attacks come on suddenly, but the vast majority start with mild chest pain and discomfort. Some people experiencing a heart attack are not sure they are having one and may think it's only heartburn or indigestion. This may result in not seeking medical attention promptly.

Therefore, it's critical to be familiar with and recognize heart attack symptoms, and to take them seriously. The following are heart attack warning symptoms:

• pain or discomfort in the chest, shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw that does not go away with rest (in women, discomfort is more common than pain)
• pressure, heaviness, fullness, burning, or squeezing in the chest
• shortness of breath
• nausea and/or vomiting
• sweating, or cool and clammy skin
• anxiety or fear
• denial
• light-headedness or sudden dizziness

If you experience these warning symptoms, the Heart and Stroke Foundation suggests doing the following things:

• Call 9-1-1.
• Stop all activity and rest (sit or lie down).
• If you are taking nitroglycerin, take your usual dose.
• If the 9-1-1 operator advises it, and you are not allergic to ASA, chew and swallow one 325 mg ASA tablet or two 81 mg tablets.
• Rest and wait for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
• Keep a list of the medications that you take on the fridge and in your wallet. EMS will want this information during your care.

Acting promptly may save your life!

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Heart-Health

Have you been tested for high blood pressure? Your doctor may put a cuff on your arm as part of a routine check-up to test your blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is caused by blood pushing too hard against the walls of your blood vessels, and it can be a serious medical condition. If your blood pressure levels are above normal, you might be at increased risk for heart disease and stroke.

Your doctor can test your blood pressure levels at a clinic or hospital, but you can also test your blood pressure yourself. Measuring your blood pressure at home is helpful for two reasons. First, some people get higher-than-usual blood pressure readings at the doctor's office, usually because they are a bit nervous. Second, people with hypertension need to monitor their blood pressure regularly. Blood pressure normally changes daily, rising during activity and falling during sleep. The best way to get good readings is to check yourself at the same time of day.

You should also take occasional readings at different times during the day and evening. This can help you determine the effects and effectiveness of blood pressure medications. Ask your doctor how often you should monitor your blood pressure.

If you test your blood pressure at home, you have three types of home monitors to choose from:

• The manual inflation device. Wrap the cuff around your arm and use a pump to inflate it.
• The automatic inflation device. Wrap the cuff around your arm. Push a button to inflate the cuff. It then deflates at the rate needed for an accurate test.
• The wrist cuff. Wrap the cuff around your wrist and push a button to inflate the cuff. These types of monitors are not usually recommended because it's more difficult to get an accurate reading.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether home monitoring is a good idea for you and which type of monitor would best suit your needs.

Most home monitors give extremely accurate readings. The monitor will show systolic and diastolic blood pressure, for instance 120/80. Systolic, the higher number (e.g., 120 in 120/80), refers to the measurement taken when your blood surges from your heart out to the rest of your body (the main "thump" part of the heartbeat). Diastolic, the lower number (e.g., 80 in 120/80), refers to when your blood is being pulled back into the heart by the heart expanding (the off-beat of the heartbeat).

Most home monitors also show a reading on your heart rate or pulse (how many times a minute your heart is beating). Normal resting rates vary between 50 and 100 beats per minute. Many monitors have a tiny computer in them that lets you compare a reading with previous ones. Make sure you get a cuff size that fits well. If it's too small or big, it may give false readings.

For most people, the blood pressure target is usually less than 140/90 taken at the doctor's office or less than 135/85 taken at home. For people with diabetes, the target is less than 130/80. Depending on your medical conditions, your doctor may recommend different blood pressure targets. Talk to your doctor to find out what your targets should be.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Heart-Health

It takes practice and time to quit smoking. The benefits of stopping smoking are worth the effort. Different strategies work better for different people.

Smoking cessation medications

Medications used to support the quitting process include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which is designed to help ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings. NRT contains nicotine without the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco. NRT is available over the counter at the pharmacy, and different forms of NRT include chewing pieces (gum), the nicotine patch, inhaler, lozenges, and mouth sprays. Other medications used in smoking cessation include bupropion and varenicline. Research shows that when used as directed, and combined with support groups or counselling, these medications can increase your chance of success. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about which medications may be appropriate for you.

Support groups and counselling

Group programs usually involve meeting small groups of people who are all trying to quit smoking. Group support programs can increase your chances of success and keep you motivated to stay on track. Contact your local public health department to locate any smoking cessation groups active in your community.

There are other great ways to find support, including quit lines, online forums, interactive websites, smartphone apps and text message services. Individual counselling programs can range from brief advice and counselling offered by a health care professional to intensive counselling available through specialty clinics. Talk to your doctor about whether individual counselling is an appropriate option for you.

Tips for quitting

Quitting smoking may be hard, but it can be done! Here are some tips to help you quit:

• Develop an action plan to improve your chances of quitting. Writing the plan down will help you think more carefully about what you need to do and how you will approach it. Try the following:
• Pick a day as your "quit date," which is the day you intend to stop smoking. Write this date down.
• Make a list of the important benefits of quitting and read it over before and after you quit. Use this list while you are trying to quit to remind yourself of your reasons for quitting.
• List the situations in which you smoke and the reasons why you smoke - this will help you identify what "triggers" you to light up.
• List fun and healthy activities to replace smoking, and be ready to do these when you feel the urge to smoke.
• Avoid smoking triggers. Starting with your quit date, try to remove or avoid your smoking triggers. For example, if you associate coffee with smoking, try drinking tea or water instead. If you usually smoke at parties, find other ways to socialize with friends until you feel comfortable and confident about facing these situations.
• Don't carry matches, a lighter, or cigarettes.
• Each day, delay lighting your first cigarette by one hour. After the first cigarette, when you have your next craving to smoke, delay for another 15 minutes or half an hour. By delaying each cigarette, you take control.
• Familiarize yourself with possible withdrawal symptoms and how you plan to handle them.
• Get moving! Exercise is a great way to relax and feel good; use exercise rather than smoking to deal with stress. As you exercise, with each deep breath you take, you can start to repair some of the damage done to your body from smoking.
• Build your own support network. Enlist the help of a close friend or family member, your doctor, someone you know and respect who has recently quit, or someone who wants to quit smoking with you.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Heart-Health

Cholesterol is a fat-based substance found in the bloodstream and the body's cells.Cholesterol is essential for good health: it builds and repairs cells, protects nerve fibres, and is used to produce certain hormones and bile acids. We get it in two ways: the liver produces it, and it is contained in some of the foods we eat, including meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy products. A healthy daily intake of cholesterol is about the amount found in a single egg. Most of us take in more than that, which is where problems can begin.

When cholesterol moves through our blood, it joins up with proteins to make molecules known as lipoproteins. "Bad" cholesterol, or low-density lipoproteins (LDL), can build up on the walls of blood vessels, where it can block and damage arteries. This can eventually cause heart disease and stroke. But there's also "good" cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which clear away the dangerous, “bad” type of cholesterol.

Although LDL is the one to worry about, getting accurate readings of both kinds is essential. High levels of "bad" cholesterol and low levels of "good" cholesterol mean you could be at risk of heart disease.

Triglycerides are not a type of cholesterol but are another type of fat found in the body. Like LDL, high triglycerides are associated with heart disease. Triglyceride levels are often measured at the same time as cholesterol levels.

Many factors determine whether your LDL-cholesterol is high or low, including:

• diet
• weight
• level of physical activity
• age (cholesterol levels rise with age)
• sex (men have higher cholesterol)
• alcohol consumption
• heredity
• some medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, liver disease, and kidney disease

To help lower cholesterol levels:

• Enjoy a diet high in whole-grain foods, vegetables, fruits, and legumes.
• Replace saturated fats (found in meat, full-fat dairy products, shortening, and tropical oils such as palm and coconut oil) with monounsaturated fats (found in olives, olive oil, nuts, and avocado) and polyunsaturated fats (found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, fish, and wheat germ).
• Drink alcohol in moderation (for men, no more than 3 drinks per day on most days, up to a maximum of 15 drinks per week; for women, no more than 2 drinks per day on most days, up to a maximum of 10 drinks per week).
• Enjoy regular physical activity (such as walking, swimming, biking, or gardening) for at least 2½ hours per week.
• Don't smoke.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Take cholesterol medications (if necessary) as prescribed by your doctor.

Regardless of what your cholesterol level is, the above suggestions are recommended for everyone for good heart health!

Should you have your cholesterol levels tested?

It is recommended that you have your doctor check your cholesterol levels and assess your risk of heart disease every 5 years once you are over the age of 40. Some conditions require testing of cholesterol levels regardless of age; these include but are not limited to:

• diabetes
• family history of heart disease
• hypertension
• currently smoking
• obesity
• chronic kidney disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Your doctor may have provided your cholesterol readings as a ratio of total cholesterol to HDL. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about managing your cholesterol.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Heart-Health