Fall In Love With Your Heart On Valentine's Day
Marie Emery
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Opinion
|
This month also is a good time to think of your own hard-working heart.
February is often recognized for Valentine's Day but The American Heart Association has recognized a program called "Go Red For Women" as a time for women to recognize the dangers of heart disease.
Every minute of every day a woman dies of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death for women although men are at higher risk of heart disease than women. African-Americans have a higher risk of heart disease than Caucasians.
What gives?
Great strides have been made in the U.S. lessen the risk from heart disease and decrease morbidity but we can do better. Emergency care has helped save many lives but we need better prevention and earlier treatment.
Do you know your family heart history?
Does mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, aunts or uncles have high blood pressure?
Has anyone had a heart attack or stroke?
Is anyone diabetic? Diabetes is considered a "heart disease equivalent" and people who have diabetes are four times as likely to have strokes or heart attacks as non-diabetics.
Take care of yourself. If you are diabetic or have high blood pressure, control it or eventually it will control you.
Be a healthy weight. Exercise at least five times weekly for 30-50 minutes.
Eat healthy foods. Total fat grams should be 30 percent or less of total calories consumed.
Unsaturated and no trans (hydrogenated) fat is the best choice when evaluating food labels or meats.
Keep your teeth clean. Whitening treatments are not the same as having your teeth cleaned; there is a strong association with heart disease and inflammation of gums and dental disease.
Toothless and snaggle teeth conditions are linked to heart problems.
Nicotine by smoking or smokeless tobacco do not help either.
Eat healthy.
Exercise.
Control health problems.
Keep teeth clean.
Don't smoke.
Dark chocolate or red wine in moderation may be OK.
Happy Valentine's Day and wear red for Go Red for Women!
For more information on heart disease go to: www.americanheart.org (American Heart Association)
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute)
Marie Emery is a nurse practitioner and manager of the Appalachian NP Clinic.
Be the first to comment on this story