Each February, during American Heart Month, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) emphasizes the importance of heart health and encourages people to keep their hearts healthy.
Since 1964, the U.S. has recognized February as a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of death, according to the American Red Cross. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 47% of U.S. adults have at least one of three key risk factors for heart disease, which are high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a history of smoking. Other significant risk factors include obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Coconino County, as well, according to the Coconino County Public Health and Human Services Department.
Women and men experience heart disease and heart attacks in roughly equal numbers, but the warning signs can differ. For example, only half of women having a heart attack experience chest pain and are less likely than men to report breaking out in a cold sweat or feeling pain in the left arm. Women with heart disease often feel pain from angina – a lack of oxygen-rich blood reaching the heart muscle – during ordinary daily activities rather than while exercising and mental stress is more likely to trigger angina pain in women. The biggest cardiac issue for many women is not a coronary artery blockage, which can be common in men, but a reduction in blood flow to very small arteries and vessels around the heart. These arteries and vessels are so small that they often don’t register on a traditional diagnostic angiogram.
The NIH advises women to be aware of the following symptoms:
- Burning in the chest
- Neck, jaw, throat, upper abdominal or back pain, especially while resting or sleeping
- Indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting
- Extreme tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations or a fluttering feeling
- Swelling in feet, ankles, legs or abdomen
Since cardiovascular disease can affect so many people, it is important to know what preventive measures people can take to make their heart as healthy as possible. Christopher Mueller, MD, cardiologist at the Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) Cardiovascular Institute encourages patients to live a heart-healthy lifestyle, and that can start by knowing your numbers. Blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and body mass index provide valuable insight into your heart health.
Improving heart health involves making conscious choices to reduce risk factors and adopt heart-healthy habits. Dr. Mueller offers some steps you can take to live a heart-healthy lifestyle this American Heart Month and beyond:
- Eat a balanced diet: “I suggest taking steps to move towards a whole food plant predominant diet with the majority of calories come from plants including vegetables, fruits, whole intact and minimally processed grains, beans, legumes, minimally processed soy, nuts, seeds. Limit your intake of processed meats and full-fat dairy.”
- Regular exercise: “I tell my patients to engage in daily aerobic exercise of moderate intensity for a total of at least 2.5 hours per week. In addition, consider including muscle-strengthening activity at least twice per week.”
- Get enough sleep: “I encourage healthy sleep habits, including getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night, consistent bed and wake times, and limiting artificial light two hours before bed.”
- Limit alcohol consumption: “If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to heart problems.”
- Quit smoking: “If you smoke, seek support to quit. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease.”
It is also important to know what your own personal risk for cardiovascular disease is. A person could follow the best tips for maintaining a healthy heart, but they should understand their family’s health history, too. Healthy living is an important lifestyle to maintain and could still help protect against heart disease, but as you age, your risk could increase if you have a family history of heart disease.
Having regular check-ins with a primary care provider is one of those important habits a person can keep when it comes to preventative heart care. During regular checkups, your health care provider monitors blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and weight.
Through simple screenings and lab tests, your care team can detect changes early and recommend lifestyle adjustments or medications, if needed. Regular visits also create space for important conversations about diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management and family history. A trusted provider can help you understand your personal risk and create a prevention plan tailored to your life.
When you visit your health care provider on a regular basis, there’s a better chance of catching a cardiovascular problem in its early stages since subtle changes are easier to spot over time. Early detection leads to earlier intervention, which can reduce complications and improve outcomes.
Living at a high altitude can also contribute to cardiovascular symptoms. People who live at higher altitudes tend to have higher blood pressure, which can lead to additional heart issues because the heart has to work harder to get its supply of oxygen.
If you or a loved one do need expert cardiac care, NAH offers comprehensive heart and vascular services at the Cardiovascular Institute in Flagstaff and Verde Valley. The multidisciplinary approach brings the expertise from an array of specialists, including surgeons, pathologists, oncologists, radiation therapists, nurses, social workers, nutritionists and others, who customize treatment plans for each patient.
NAH focuses on caring for the whole person, and that starts with heart health at every age. Your heart works hard for you every day, and our cardiac specialists are here to support each patient every step of the way.
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If you are interested in submitting a question for NAH, please email it to [email protected]. We will choose one question per month and one of our experts will answer it in this column.