Me, Heart Disease??

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, and stroke is number five. While most of us don’t want to become a statistic, an American Heart Association survey indicated that people don’t see how risk factors are directly linked to heart health.

In other words, a person could be at risk who has high blood pressure (risk factor) and is gnawing on a quarter pound of bacon-on-a-stick (risk factor) at BaconFest in Easton, PA.

Seems as obvious as a smoker buying donuts.

But what’s less obvious (and less stereotypical) are the compounding daily choices that increase our risk for heart disease.

Here are six factors that you might consider:

Diet: Everything in moderation is a great mantra, but the proof is on the panel. Read the nutrition panel on the foods you buy. Look at how much salt, saturated fats and trans fats are in those items. All of those values can increase your risk for heart disease. For that matter consider the calories and sugar too since diabetes is linked to heart disease. Because diet impacts health, watch what you eat. Take in nutrient rich whole foods. If trying to lose weight, it can be as easy as setting healthy goals, understanding why you eat and what you crave, and then managing your portions size.

Activity: 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Some rules just don’t change. The 30/5 rule is the best way to fit in what the American Heart Association recommends: 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. Exercise can help you feel better and maintain a healthy weight. So keep it a regular part of your day, and if you fall off wagon for a week, so what? Just start back up instead of beating yourself up.

Numbers: Know your numbers. Many folks don’t have regular wellness visits with a physician. But you can still find free screening tools at events, health fairs and the local grocery store. The numbers you should know are cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and BMI. Managing these can go a long way in preventing heart disease, but you can’t manage what you don’t know.

Saying No: Smoking isn’t your friend. So kick its butt. Tobacco, no matter the form, can increase blood clots, decrease good cholesterol and make exercising feel like a drag. Work to quit.

Family Tree: Many people living with heart disease are shocked to think it could happen to them even after it happened to their mother or father or uncle or grandmother. Family history is something you should know and heed. While you can’t change history, but can alter the future by managing risk factors and maintaining wellness visits.

Regular Wellness Exams: White coat syndrome is something you should treat by seeing a doctor. Go often. While there, ask the physician to help you manage your stress, get the rest you need, complete necessary screenings and find a workout routine and diet approach. Establishing a primary care physician can help you have a partner in your health journey.

Now if these six factors seem too difficult to manage or easily ignored through a dose of sarcasm, then here is what you should remember: Heart Attack Warning Signs. If you feel chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, discomfort in your arm, jaw, or neck, call 911.

Seem dire? Did you hear the one about the guy at BaconFest?

Check out the great resources at the American Heart Association to learn more.