Are you heart healthy? February is American Heart Month!

For some people, the image of a heart seen during February symbolizes Valentine’s Day.  For others, it symbolizes American Heart Month.

Approximately 715,000 Americans have heart attacks each year, while 600,000 die from heart disease.  That’s an astounding 1 in 4 people and accounts for the leading cause of death among both men and women. 

Although those numbers are shocking, there’s hope! Prevention plays a huge role in combating heart disease.  Monitoring cholesterol levels can prevent stroke and heart attacks.  According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), guidelines urge people over 20-years-old to have a fasting lipid panel which includes HDL, LDL and triglycerides every five years.  This test requires the patient to fast between 9-12 hours beforehand.

The HDL removes cholesterol from the bloodstream and artery walls and is often referred to as, “the good cholesterol.”  The LDL deposits cholesterol in the artery walls, which help build plaque and if often referred to as, “the bad cholesterol.”  Triglycerides are stored in fat cells and are used for energy.

If you are a blood donor at The Medical Foundation, you have had a non-fasting total cholesterol.  This test is made up of both the HDL and LDL levels plus 20% of the triglyceride levels.  The cholesterol levels are available to each blood donor and are free of charge.  If you would like to make an appointment to donate blood click here.

For non-fasting cholesterol tests, results should fall within these guidelines:

Less than 200 mg/dl is desirable lessens the risk of heart disease
200-239 mg/dl is borderline high
240+ mg/dl is high blood cholesterol

Along with monitoring your cholesterol, experts recommend that to decrease your risk of heart disease or heart attack, you should refrain from smoking, eating foods high in saturated or trans fat and participate in a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week.

A heart attack happens when blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped.  This happens because coronary arteries become thicker and harder from a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances called plaque.  If the plaque breaks open and a blood clot forms that blocks the blood flow, then a heart attack with occur.

There are a few signs or symptoms that may be present when a person is having an actual heart attack, but they can be different for men and women. According to the American Heart Association, some symptoms may include chest discomfort in the center of the chest which lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and returns.  Other symptoms include discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness.

“Twenty percent of women have different symptoms than men,” said Marianne Legato, MD, Gender Medicine. “Men often refer to the elephant on the chest, pain radiating down one arm.  One in five women feel indigestion, shortness of breath and or nausea.”

There are several events in the Michiana area that both men and women can take part in to learn more about being heart healthy. 

The Elkhart County Go Red for Women Affair in Red will host a Women’s Heart Health Expo, Doctors and Style Show on Thursday, February 27^th from 5pm until 8pm at the Lerner Crystal Ballroom in Elkhart.  For more information click here.

The St. Joseph County Go Red For Women Lifestyle Forum and Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 8^th at the Morris Inn Ballroom at the University of Notre Dame.  For more information click here.

Although patients may feel some of the warning signs leading up to a heart attack, there aren’t too many signs ahead of time.  Blood can offer many clues about your heart health.  High levels of “bad cholesterol” or LDL can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. 

Blood tests to consider having completed are High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein which measures CRP, a protein in the blood that is a strong indicator of inflammation throughout the body.  When plaque injures blood vessels, it triggers inflammation and CRP levels in the body.  Women with high CRP levels are four times more likely to suffer from cardiac problems.  This test is recommended by the American Heart Association for those with a known risk and not just the general public.  This test along cannot indicate heart risk, but with aid in conjunction with other tests.

A test for Fibrinogen measures the protein in your blood that helps it to clot.  Too much can cause a clot to form in an artery which could lead to heart attack or stroke.

A blood test called Homocysteine detects a substance your body uses to make protein and build and maintain tissue.

All of these blood tests are available at The Medical Foundation. Remember, prevention is the key to avoiding a heart attack and heart disease.