We hope everyone will join us this
Thursday, February 18, at the Village Commons from 1 to 5 p.m. for our next
Pathfinder Produce fresh fruits and vegetables market. Buying fresh
produce is a key way that you can directly improve your family’s health, and
during these blah, gray days of winter, it’s the perfect excuse to get outside
and feel productive. We look forward to seeing you!
***
In our continuing observation of American Heart
Month, it’s a good time to remember the risk factors for heart attacks.
As we work toward improved cardiac health, it’s also good to know what to do
when a heart attack is happening. If you think that you or a loved one are
experiencing a heart attack, call 911 and get immediate help. Minutes
count!
Common warning signs of heart attacks may
include:
·
Chest pressure, fullness or a squeezing
pain that lasts for several minutes or goes away and returns.
·
Pain or discomfort that extends beyond
your chest to one or both arms, your back, neck, stomach and jaw.
·
Unexplained shortness of breath.
·
Cold sweats, nausea, vomiting,
lightheadedness, anxiety,
indigestion,
and unexplained fatigue.
After you call
911, have the person sit or lie down and remain calm. Be prepared to do
CPR if the person stops breathing; the 911 dispatcher can coach you if you
don’t know what to do. If you have an AED unit nearby and know how to use it,
send someone to get it as you help the person. If the person is alert and
not allergic, give the person a baby aspirin if it is available.
Many
of us think that we are not at risk for heart attacks -- statistics say
otherwise. Each year in the U.S., according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Approximately
1.5 million heart attacks and strokes occur.
- About
800,000 people die from heart disease, about 1 of 3 deaths.
- About
150,000 deaths occur in people under age 65.
- Heart
disease kills roughly the same number people in the U.S. each year as
cancer, lower respiratory diseases, and accidents combined.
Heart attacks and cardiac disease result in
staggering losses for families, our communities, and our country, which incurs
over $320
billion in direct and indirect costs each year through heart disease.
Recently, those losses have come into focus through the death of Supreme Court
Justice Antonin Scalia. News stories indicate his health history and
risks were consistent with those who die from heart attacks:
Smoking: According to
the PBS
Newshour, Justice Scalia was a smoker of cigarettes and pipes. This
factor is key, as 1 out of 5
cardiac-related deaths is attributable to smoking, the main preventable
cause of death and illness in the U.S.
High Blood Pressure:
The New
York Times, U.S.
News, and other sources have stated that Justice Scalia’s doctor, Rear
Admiral Brian P. Monahan, had said he suffered from high blood pressure.
This happens when the pressure of the heart’s pumping action strains
arteries and veins. This damage can result in vascular scarring, plaque
build-up, and clot formations that lead to strokes or heart attacks.
Other preventable risks
for heart disease include being overweight, not exercising, having high
cholesterol and eating an unhealthy diet, and having diabetes or high blood
sugar.
Other factors that contribute to heart disease
are those you can’t control -- age and heredity. Justice Scalia was 79,
and according to biographer Joan Biskupic, his
parents, Salvatore and Catherine, died within weeks of each other in the
mid-1980s due to a stroke and heart attack.
Looking at Justice Scalia’s life through the
lens of heart disease is sobering. And although he was controversial, he was
also respected and well-loved by his colleagues (he enjoyed opera with Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsberg and took Justice Elena Kagan hunting
several times). I offer this unique look at his health in hopes that it
may offer perspective, point out our own risks, and inspire readers to make
meaningful changes.
Until next time, be well!
Lori
