February Is American Heart Month – Raise Awareness & Support a Worthy Cause Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. Unfortunately, only 69% of women know that heart disease is their leading cause of death and most fail to make the connection between its risk factors and their personal risk of developing heart disease. Cardiovascular disease and stroke are largely preventable if you work to lower your risks. The Heart Truth ® campaign offers the “Ten Commandments for a Healthy Heart”: 1. Know your risk factors for heart disease. While most factors listed below can be controlled, some, such as age, gender, heredity, and race cannot. 2. Talk to your doctor about reducing your risk of heart disease. Learn your most common risk factors. 3. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure (or hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal. This makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. High blood pressure raises the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, heart failure and atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in the arteries). 4. Know your cholesterol numbers. A high cholesterol level (this includes total cholesterol, HDL or “good” cholesterol, LDL or “bad” cholesterol & triglycerides) is bad because cholesterol can build up with other substances in the inner walls of arteries. This buildup, called plaque, can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow. High blood cholesterol has no symptoms, and many people have it without knowing it. 5. Have your blood sugar level checked for diabetes. Diabetes most often appears in middle age and among overweight people. But it's becoming an increasing problem in children and adolescents. Among U.S. residents aged 65 years and older, 10.9 million, or 26.9%, had diabetes in 2010. About 215,000 people younger than 20 years had diabetes (type 1 or type 2) in the United States in 2010. (2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet – CDC) 6. Do not smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. Constant exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke increases your risk, even if you don’t smoke. The good news is that when you stop smoking, your risk of heart disease and stroke can be cut in half just one year later and continues to decline until it’s as low as a nonsmoker’s risk. 7. Eat for your heart health. A healthy diet is one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars. A healthy diet also emphasizes making smart choices from every food group and paying attention to portion sizes and overall caloric intake. 8. Get regular physical activity. At least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most of all days of the week, such as walking, jogging, even cleaning your house. 9. Aim for a healthy weight. Consult with your doctor to determine a healthy weight for you. 10. Know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and the importance of seeking medical help immediately. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. This year, in recognition of American Heart Month, the NHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) class have partnered with Nevada Regional Medical Center to host a “Dunk Red” night on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 3rd. The event will feature various activities and information on heart disease will be available during the NHS girls’ basketball games beginning at 6 pm. Area businesses are encouraged to participate by allowing employees to wear jeans with a red shirt to work on Friday, February 3rd. In order to help raise funds, the FBLA students have created “Dunk Red” shirts which are available to purchase by contacting FLBA instructor Amber Jenkins, 417-321-0083. All proceeds will go to the American Heart Association to support awareness, research, education, and community programs for heart disease. The NRMC Foundation will sponsor a FREE Cholesterol screening on Wednesday, February 22, from 6:30 to 9 am. Registration is required and can be made by calling 417-448-3622. “Ten Commandments for a Healthy Heart” courtesy of www.nhlbi.nih.gov