We often take our heart health for granted and have no idea about our heart health. When we think of a heart attack, we think it will happen to someone else, not to us. At one time, Anne may have had a similar attitude. Then, in 2019, she had lost 15 people in one year and was grief stricken. Anne started having heart palpitations. She became worried. She was waiting for disaster to strike, maybe a heart attack or stroke. She had been watching her cholesterol and other blood lipids go up for years and had paid little attention to her heart health risks.
Finally, her doctor told her that she had high calcium deposits in her coronary arteries and said it was time to act. Medications worked initially and then didn’t help anymore. Then her doctor referred Ann to me for help with her diet to regain her heart health.
You probably knew of a neighbor, coworker, acquaintance, or relative who passed away from a sudden heart attack or stroke. As a silent killer, heart disease develops by a buildup of plaque within the arteries. Such a blockage not only prevents blood flow, but also prevents you from spending time with those you love.
As we honor February as National Heart Month, we kick off by evaluating our heart health. As we move through life’s many obstacles, we cultivate relationships, experiment with different hobbies, and uncover root passions. While it’s important to take care of your emotional heart, do not neglect the beating organ within your chest since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Individuals who smoke cigarettes are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers. Smoking raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, and reduces blood flow from the heart. Other outcomes from frequent smoking include increased chance of stroke, increased risk for blood clots, and damage to blood vessels.
Excess weight that does not contribute to lean body mass has been associated to increased risk for heart disease. Overweight and obese individuals have increased bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, and risk for diabetes which all links to heart disease. The American Heart Association (ASA) showed 68% of patients over 65 years old had both diabetes and heart disease.
Inactivity can promote heart disease. Inactive individuals risk developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Including light-moderate exercise in your routine will benefit your heart-health by maintaining weight, lowering blood pressure, increasing HDL, and controlling your blood glucose levels.
While the pressure to be perfect adds on stress to your life, it may end up increasing your risk for heart disease. Stress increases blood pressure, reduces blood flow, and causes irregular heart rhythm. Under stressful conditions, individuals rely on coping mechanisms such as over-eating, smoking, or drinking. Emotional eating may result in weight gain which risks onset of diabetes and heart disease.
Poor diet is a huge contributor to heart disease. Stay tuned this month for our blog post covering how to eat heart-healthy.
Remember that health and wellness not about fitting into a specific size jean or following the newest fad diet, but keeping your muscles, brain, and heart healthy. If you think you may be at risk for heart disease, consult with your doctor. We hope that everyone puts their heart first, not only for themselves, but for their loved ones around them.
Cover photo from Canva.
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Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN
Transformational Speaker, Breakthrough Coach, Nutritionist-Dietitian
Candice Shipley, Student Nutritionist
Nutrition & Food Science – Dietetics
University of Maryland, College Park | 2023