American Heart Month
February is National Heart Month and during this month we’ll see advertisements on TV, in magazines, and online reminding us of the warning signs of a heart attack. While many symptoms are the same for both men and women, there are a few warning signs that are much more common for women than men. Your health, or that of a loved one, depends on you knowing these signs.
Warning Signs
American Heart Association’s warning signs of a heart attack:
For men…
- • Chest pain or discomfort which can also feel like pressure or squeezing
- • Chest pain that comes and goes
- • Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, or jaw
- • Shortness of breath
- • Experiencing nausea or stomach pain
- • Becoming lightheaded
- • Becoming clammy or breaking out into a sweat
For women…
- • Chest pain or discomfort which can also feel like pressure or squeezing
- • Chest pain that comes and goes
- • Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, or neck
- • Jaw pain – more common for women
- • Shortness of breath – more common for women
- • Experiencing nausea and vomiting – more common for women
- • Becoming lightheaded
- • Becoming clammy or breaking out into a sweat
Addressing Heart Health
There are many different ways to take stock of your heart health:
- • Know your family medical history
- • Get a physical
- • Start a regular exercise program
- • Adopt a heart healthy diet (see Mayo Clinic suggestions below)
- • If you smoke, quit
- • Monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Healthy Eating
Mayo Clinic‘s tips for eating a heart-healthy diet:
- • Control portion size
- • Eat more fruits and vegetables
- • Eat whole grains
- • Limit unhealthy fats
- • Limit sodium intake
- • Eat lean cuts of meat and fish
- • Meal plan
- • Limit treats, but enjoy occasionally
Celebrating Heart Health During February
Ways to celebrate National Heart Month:
- • Participate in a virtual running or cycling event to support heart health
- • Take a CPR certification course
- • Wear red on February 5th to support women’s heart health
- • Attend a virtual health and fitness expo or conference
- • Organize an online heart health screening for your office
- • Make a donation to a charitable organization researching cures for heart disease
As with so many other diseases, diet and exercise play a huge role in maintaining a healthy heart. February is the perfect time to focus on what will keep your heart healthy. Do it for yourself and for the ones you love!
Questions:
- • Do you have a healthy heart?
- • Are you CPR certified?
- • What is your favorite heart-healthy meal?
These are great ideas on how to celebrate heart month. I will have to update my CPR this summer. Hopefully in person 🙂
You did the virtual race for American Heart Month!
I have my in person CPR recertification on March 8th.
Not CPS certified. I assume my heart is healthy.
I eat oatmeal everyday as well as fruit. I try to avoid unhealthy snacks. And of course stay active.
Smart and healthy choices!
We had a CPR & First Aid class at work last year…not sure if it was a ”certification ” class, though. I’m guilty of not eating clean as often as I should, but I stay very active. And I always wear red on Wear Red Day <3
I remember in the old days you had to pass a written exam in order to become CPR certified, but “they” decided that many people didn’t take the class for fear of failing the exam. These days the instructor makes sure you can verbally tell him/her the counts, etc. and demonstrate an ability to do CPR. The idea is that the more people who are knowledgeable about CPR, the better.