Greensboro Vicks [February 1987]

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Greensboro Vicks
February is
heart month:
Your heart is
in YOUR
hands
"Heart attack-k-k! You're givin' me a
heart attack-k-k!" the stereo blares.
But heart attacks are nothing to sing
about, unless you're Olivia Newton-
John. Cardiovascular disorders, which
include heart diseases, strokes and high
blood pressure are the nation's No. I
killer. They will cause one-half of all
deaths this year.
Everyone is vulnerable. It CAN
happen to you. But there is a lot you
can do to prevent it.
February is heart month, a good time
for employees and their families to take
stock of their lifestyles and how they
affect health.
Genetic makeup, or heredity, plays a
large part in a person's health. Managing lifestyles, however, can help
individuals live longer, happier and more
productively; both on and off the job.
Employees need to learn some basic
facts about heart disease and heart
attacks.
What to look for:
Do you know the symptoms of a
heart attack and what to do if you or a
loved one is stricken?
You should!
For too many people, the first outward sign of heart disease is sudden
death. Each year, about 100,000 deaths
occur in the first five minutes of a heart
attack, and half of all heart-attack
deaths occur within the first hour.
Many of these deaths could be prevented, but people misread symptoms
or deny that they are seriously ill.
The term "heart attack" is a rather
general one for what doctors call a
"myocardial infarction." Contrary to
what many people believe, a heart
attack usually does not produce a great
immobilizing pain that takes one's
breath away. Nor does it cause a sharp,
stabbing pain.
Instead, the pain is more like a bag of
sand pressing on the chest behind the
breastbone — an uncomfortable fullness, squeezing or pressure. The pain
may radiate to the neck, shoulders or
arms. It may come and go and even
disappear for a considerable period of
time. Not all symptoms may be present.
Feeling weak, short of breath and
nauseous, the victim may mistake his or
her condition for indigestion.
As a result, one in five heart attacks is
not diagnosed at the time it occurs.
Many victims die before receiving
medical attention, and thousands more
risk later death by walking around with
heart damage they are not aware of.
The American Heart Association
recommends that anyone experiencing
chest discomfort lasting for two minutes
or more get to a hospital immediately. It
also suggests training in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation techniques (CPR) as a way
of prolonging life until professional
medical help arrives.
How to live:
Do you know the seven major risk
factors associated with heart disease
and live in a way that reduces the
chances of a coronary or coronary-
related disorder? The more uncontrolled
risk factors a person has, the greater are
his or her chances of developing
premature heart disease and dying
young.
Do you know your blood pressure,
blood sugar and cholesterol levels? They
measure three of the risk factors. You
should have them checked regularly
and adjust diet, especially intake of
sugars and saturated fats, to keep these
levels within medically recommended
ranges. Your family doctor can measure
your blood pressure simply and painlessly in his or her office. Blood tests can
be ordered to determine your blood
sugar and cholesterol levels. Your doctor
will then be able to outline the proper
diet for you to follow to help control
these risk factors.
Do you smoke~or are you overweight? Each condition is dangerous.
Their combination is lethal.
Do you exercise? Most Americans
lead sedentary lives and consume far
too many calories. Putting motion in
your life on a regular basis helps fight
weight problems and also has been
known to lower blood pressure, blood
sugar and cholesterol levels. A good
diet-exercise program is a must for most
people, but should be preceded by a
thorough physical checkup and competent medical advice.
Are you under a lot of stress at home
or on the job? All humans feel stress,
and some stress is beneficial. But
excessive stress over extended periods
contributes to cardiovascular problems
and raises susceptibility to other
disorders. In a word, relax, as much as
you can.
The cost of not taking care of your
heart is high — in economic and
human terms. Our nation loses billions
of dollars in productivity and spends
billions more on medical care; countless
families suffer needless tragedy each
year because people fail to follow
healthful lifestyles and then ignore
obvious danger signals.
Remember: Your heart — and your
life — are in YOUR hands.
See Dr. Buie's Article
February 1987