You Won Her Heart, Now Take Care of Yours

Won-Her-Heart-1From the Winter 2012 StayHealthy publication

So you’ve found someone who makes your heart skip a beat. Now what? Sharing your heart means caring for yourself as well as your loved ones, doing all you can to live healthy and happily ever after.

Yet sadly, according to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women. “But there’s so much good news when it comes to our hearts,” said Allen Miller, Director of Porter’s Cardiology Service Line. “In fact, heart disease is largely preventable because so many risk factors are within our control. In many ways, our hearts are in our own hands,” he added.

 

Yet many people don’t make heart healthy changes in time because they don’t know they’re at risk. “For instance, If you quit smoking, you can cut your risk for heart disease by up to 75 percent. Getting your blood pressure under control or reducing your cholesterol are also great ways of improving your heart health,” said Miller. “Every day we meet people who are surprised by the results of heart tests. They’re surprised to learn they have problems with their blood pressure, their arteries, their cholesterol or other parts of their cardiovascular system. We often think that if we don’t have chest pain, we’re heart healthy. Yet we’ve learned that close to half of us are missing opportunities to improve our heart health because of undiagnosed conditions.

Your life depends on it, but how much do you really know about your heart?

Heart-Smart-QuizTake our heart smart quiz to learn more about this vital life-support system.

1. What is meant by the term myocardial infarction?

  • a. Infection of the heart
  • b. Heart attack
  • c. Heart rhythm problem
  • d. All of the above

Answer: b. A myocardial infarction (or MI) is the offcial term for heart attack.

2. A sudden cardiac arrest means the heart has…

  • a. Slowed down
  • b. Developed an irregular rhythm
  • c. Stopped beating
  • d. Increased in size

Answer: c. Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of cardiac function when the heart abruptly stops beating. Unless resuscitative efforts begin immediately, cardiac arrest leads to death within a few minutes. Doctors may refer to this as “sudden death” or “sudden cardiac death.”

3. Which of the following are symptoms of heart disease or heart attack?

  • a. Dizziness
  • b. Chest pain
  • c. Jaw pain
  • d. Nausea or vomiting
  • e. Fatigue
  • f. All of the above

Answer: f. Any of these symptoms can indicate a heart attack, and women more frequently have the more nontraditional symptoms, such as fatigue. Nearly half of all people who suffer a heart attack never experience any chest pain. Because time is muscle when it comes to heart attack, it’s vitally important to respond to any unusual symptoms immediately.

4.Which of the following increase your risk for heart attack?

  • a. High blood pressure
  • b. High cholesterol
  • c. Smoking
  • d. Sedentary lifestyle
  • e. Obesity
  • f. High-fat diet
  • g. Emotional stress
  • h. Family history

Answer: All of the above, of course. Yet, the good news is that all of these factors, except family history can be controlled through lifestyle changes and/or medication. See your doctor to work at reducing your risk by controlling all of the above.

5. Being diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease (PAD) also indicates added risk for heart attack.

  • a. True
  • b. False

Answer: True. PAD is a condition in which plaque blocks the peripheral arteries in the legs. When a person has PAD, often (up to 85% of the time), he or she has the same plaque in the coronary arteries, significantly increasing the risk for heart attack.

6. What is the leading cause of death among American women over the age of 25?

  • a. Breast cancer
  • b. Uterine cancer
  • c. Lung cancer
  • d. Cardiovascular disease

Answer: d. Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of American women over the age of 25. In fact, cardiovascular disease kills nearly twice as many American women as all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer. Cardiovascular disease is also the leading killer of men.

7. "Heart failure" means the heart has stopped working.

  • a. True
  • b. False

Answer: False. Heart failure means the heart continues to work, but not as well as it should, which can lead to salt and water retention, edema (swelling), and shortness of breath – symptoms of heart failure.

8. Atrial fibrillation (or “A-Fib”) is characterized by

  • a. Abnormal blood pressure
  • b. Abnormal cholesterol
  • c. Abnormal heartbeat
  • d. None of the above

Answer: c. Atrial fibrillation is a relatively common abnormal heart rhythm caused when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) begin to quiver rather than contract normally. People with untreated atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of forming blood clots in the heart, which may lead to stroke or other organ damage. Untreated atrial fibrillation may also lead to heart failure. Symptoms of A-Fib include heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Be sure to see your doctor for these symptoms.


Visit the Porter Health System website
Valparaiso Campus
814 LaPorte Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-263-4600

9. The most common type of heart disease in the U.S. is:

  • a. Arrhythmia
  • b. Angina
  • c. Coronary artery disease
  • d. Carotid artery disease

Answer: c. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease, caused when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. This plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits, which narrow your arteries in a condition called atherosclerosis. Plaque buildup can cause angina (chest pain), the most common symptom of coronary artery disease. However, for some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. Early screening can reveal problems that patients can work to reverse or improve, preventing a heart attack or stroke.

10. When you sense heart trouble, how much time can you safely wait before getting help?

  • a. No time. Act immediately!
  • b. 30-60 minutes
  • c. 60-90 minutes
  • d. Up to two hours

Answer: a. When it comes to heart trouble, seek help immediately. Each minute represents more damage to your heart muscle – damage that can be irreversible or deadly. Know the warning signs and call 911 as soon as symptoms begin. Studies show that sadly, too many people wait too long.