Notes from the Health Office

I usually try to include information relevant to children’s health and although this is directed primarily to women, it in reality is important information for everyone.

Anne Chabot, R.N.
Nixon Health Office

Friday, February 5th, 2010 is the seventh annual National Wear Red Day.

February 5th will be a day Americans nationwide will take women's health to heart by wearing RED to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. On Wear Red Day people from all walks of life are encouraged to wear something red as a symbol of women’s awareness of heart disease. The Heart Truth is:  "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear—It's the #1 Killer of Women." 

One in three women die of heart disease and their presenting symptoms may be quite different.

Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. Among the 515 women studied, 95% said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack, or Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The women's major symptoms prior to their heart attack included:

Unusual fatigue - 70%
Sleep disturbance - 48%
Shortness of breath - 42%
Indigestion/Nausea - 39%
Anxiety - 35%

This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate a heart attack.

Many women never had chest pains!
Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Most doctors, however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom in both women and men.

Major symptoms during the heart attack include:

Shortness of breath - 58%
Weakness - 55%
Unusual fatigue - 43%
Cold sweats - 39%
Dizziness - 39%

If you suspect that you or someone you are with is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1. Get to a hospital right away. Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. EMTs can begin treatment when they arrive -- up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMTs are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped both with CPR and the use of AEDs (automated external defibrillator). If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

The good news is that both men and women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82% by leading a healthy lifestyle. By far, the most effective way to lead a "Heart Healthy" lifestyle is to gain an understanding about Cardiac Risk Factors and take steps to minimize their impact upon your life. The greater the number or severity of Cardiac Risk Factors that apply to you, the higher your chances are for cardiovascular disease. By identifying these Cardiac Risk Factors and taking active steps to reduce their number or severity, you help lower the risk of developing a cardiovascular condition.

What Are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
An astonishing 80% of women ages 40 to 60 have one or more risk factors for heart disease. Having one or more risk factors dramatically increases a woman’s chance of developing heart disease because risk factors tend to worsen each other’s effects. In fact, according to research compiled by the NHLBI, having just one risk factor doubles your chance of developing heart disease.

Whatever a woman’s age, she needs to take action to protect her heart health. Heart disease can begin early, even in the teen years, and women in their 20s and 30s need to take action to reduce their risk of developing heart disease.

Not controllable or modifiable Risk Factors:
Heredity (Positive family history for heart disease)
Gender
Age

Just as you can't control your age, sex and race, you can't control your family history. Therefore, it's even more important to treat and control any other risk factors you have.

Controllable or modifiable Risk Factors:
Smoking
High Blood Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Obesity
Physical Inactivity
Stress and Behavior

For more information please visit the following website:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/about/index.htm

REMEMBER, WEAR RED ON FEBRUARY 5TH!!!!