Love your Sweetheart ... get screened

February not only celebrates sweethearts, but it also is a time to remind yourself or your loved ones of the importance of heart health. The American Heart Association recognizes February as American Heart Month. As a strong supporter of this effort Sanford Health is also celebrating the importance of maintaining heart health by offering events and educational opportunities this February, including a special Valentine’s Day Sweetheart screening.

Get the Facts

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America -- surpassing even cancer! It is also a very preventable and treatable disease.

Both men and women fall victim to heart disease which can end in fatal heart episodes. Many men experience “classic” signs of a heart attack like crippling chest pain, sweating and difficulty breathing, while women often report experiencing an entirely different set of symptoms and warning signs, including nausea and vomiting, chest tightness, upper back pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or unexplainable fatigue. This makes it easy to attribute cardiac symptoms in women to psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic or stress. As a result, women are less likely than men to receive recommendations from their physicians about preventive or interventional heart care.

The best way to ward off the destructive effects of the disease for both men and women is to know your risks, adopt healthy behaviors and eliminate bad ones.

Get a Handle on Your Risk

Most people over the age of 40 have at least one risk factor and many have multiple risk factors. Preventing or slowing damage to the heart is key to long-term heart health.

Preventive measures include:

• Maintaining a resting blood pressure no higher than 120/80

• Knowing family history

• Keeping total cholesterol levels under 200

• Physical activity for 30 minutes most days for a goal of 150 minutes per week

• Quitting smoking

• Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index

• Eating a heart-healthy diet full of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in sodium and trans-fat.

• Controlling diabetes if you are a diabetic fruits if diabetic and

• Practicing relaxation and reducing stress.

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY SANFORD HEALTH

Get Screened

Sanford Health can help you determine your risk factors with the Heart Screening program. A heart screen is recommended if you have:

• Early family history of heart disease (less than 50 years old)

• History of smoking or currently a smoker

• Hypertension

• High Cholesterol (Total cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dL)

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Postmenopausal Woman

“Early diagnosis and preventive therapy for heart disease is the best line of defense for our families and our community,” says Sanford interventional cardiologist, Thomas Haldis. “It is a very treatable and preventable disease as long as it is identified in its early stages. That’s why it is important to know your risk factors and have a heart screen. The heart screen at Sanford is the best way to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.”

Honor Your Valentine

So at a time of the year when love is in the air, and many choose to embrace or escape the subzero temperatures, short winter nights, postholiday resolutions and even settling in for a long winter, don’t forget the heart health of your Valentine!

If you, your family members or Valentine fit the criteria listed above, the Heart Screen is available for $50 at the Sanford Center for Screening located at 1720 University Drive South, in Fargo. The screen takes less than an hour and is scheduled in advance. You do not need a physician referral for this program. [AWM]

Schedule a screen at: (701) 23-HEART [ (701) 234-3278 ] or (800) 821-2232

For more information about what heart healthy services are available visit heart.sanfordhealth.org.