Monday - Heart Health

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, February is Heart Health month! Let’s take a moment to talk about the top causes of heart problems and stroke. Activity level, diet, smoking, obesity, stress, and family health history all contribute to heart health. Making small lifestyle changes can mean the difference between a healthy and unhealthy heart.

Some tips to reducing your chances of disease are:

• Stop smoking: Smoking is terrible for your body and your health. When you quit smoking it helps to create the good cholesterol in your system. Smoking also increases your risk of cancer and other diseases.
• Eat a balanced diet: Incorporating healthy foods into your diet will not only lessen your chances of heart problems but will make you feel better. Just by eliminating your consumption of highly processed and fatty foods, you can reduce your risk of disease.
• Get active: Getting 60 mins of physical activity daily promotes heart health and provides you with energy to get through the day.
• Family History: If heart problems run in your family, prevention is key. Reduce your risk by consulting with your doctor and becoming aware of the choices you make and how they may affect your health. 

Tuesday - What is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease is a common term used when describing disease of the heart and blood vessels. There are many types of diseases that fall under this umbrella.

• Coronary Disease: This is the disease of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
• Heart Failure: This is when the heart is not pumping the blood properly to the rest of the body and is caused by heart damage.
• Peripheral Vascular Disease: This is the disease of the vessels that are far from the heart, most commonly found in the legs.
• Stroke: This happens when blood is restricted from flowing to the brain causing damage to the brain cells. The effects depend on which part of the brain has been affected.

Wednesday - Signs of Heart Disease

• Chest Pain: Although chest pain may be associated with different things going on in our bodies, it should never be ignored. It is best to consult a medical professional as this can be a sign of a heart attack.
• Palpitations: Irregular heartbeats can be experienced in different ways and should be treated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness: If this is a common occurrence for you, a doctor visit is necessary as this can be associated with heart disease or another illness.
• Loss of Consciousness: Any loss of consciousness should be check by a doctor.
• Sleepiness, Fatigue, or Lethargy: Being tired and exhausted with a lack of motivation, craving sleep at irregular times or when fully rested, or falling asleep suddenly can be serious signs of heart disease and other issues and requires medical attention.
• Shortness of Breath: Shortness of breath may or may not be associated with the heart, but could indicate asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, or pneumonia.

If you show any of these symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Thursday - Signs of Stroke

So much can be done if a stroke is caught right away; however, do you know how to identify the signs?

These can be indications of a possible stroke:

• Vision Loss 
• Weakness / Numbness
• Confusion 
• Trouble Speaking or understanding speech
• Balance  / Vertigo / Dizziness 
• Pain or Pressure in your head and neck 
• Drooping of one side of your face / Loss of use to one side of your body

If you feel the symptoms of a stroke coming on, do not wait to seek medical attention!

Friday - Free Speech Friday

Do you or any of your family suffer from Heart Disease? If so, what advice can you give to someone on how to prevent it? With heart disease as one of the leading killers, making changes to prevent it in the future can lead to positive outcomes in our lives. What are some positive changes you have made in your lifestyle in order to improve your health?