February is American Heart Month, so it is the perfect time to learn about keeping your heart healthy and strong. Your heart is very important because it continuously pumps blood all through your body every day. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, but the good news is that many heart problems can be stopped before they even start.
Your heart is a muscle which needs to stay healthy to do its job. Heart health starts early and continues throughout life. Children and teenagers should be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Doctors should check children's blood pressure starting at age 3 because high blood pressure can start in childhood. They should never start smoking, as smoking greatly increases the risk of heart disease later in life.
Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, every week. Eating a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, and lean protein is also very important. Consumption of trans fats, red meat, processed meats, sugary drinks, and salt should be limited. Controlling high blood pressure is one of the most important things adults can do to prevent heart disease and stroke. Adults who smoke should quit, as smoking doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. If you drink alcohol, limit it to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
It is important to know when someone might be having a heart attack. Warning signs can be different in men and women. Men often have chest pain or pressure, pain in the arms or shoulders, and sweating. Women often have unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, nausea, pain in the back, neck, or jaw, and dizziness. If you think someone is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1.
Your primary care doctor plays a big role in keeping your heart healthy. They can check your blood pressure, help you eat better, make sure you are getting enough exercise, and screen for problems like high cholesterol and diabetes. It is very important to tell your doctor about family history of heart disease, especially at a young age because nearly 75% of people with early heart disease have a family history of it. Your doctor can use this information to help prevent heart disease before it starts. Regular visits to your doctor are an important part of maintaining your heart health so be sure to make an appointment with your PCP to discuss the best approach to keeping your heart healthy.
Dr. Emily Sheehy is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.