HEALTHY HEART NEWS Volume 15 | May 2019
Beverly Keefer, Director of Cardiovascular Services /Anthony Patrello, Medical Director of MSLC Cardiovascular Institute
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall’s Cardiovascular Institute is committed to you and our community. We pride ourselves on being an engaged partner with the many constituencies that we serve. As part of our commitment to meeting your heart health needs, we have developed this quarterly newsletter filled with information that can improve the quality of, and in some cases, help save your life. If there are topics that you would like to see covered in future editions, please e-mail Beverly Keefer, Director of Cardiovascular Services, Cardiac Cath and Interventional Radiology at bkeefer@montefioreslc.org.
MAY IS NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH May marks National Stroke Awareness Month, and once again it is important to review the modifiable risk factors that account for 90% of strokes globally. A stroke is often referred to as a brain attack and occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked by a clot or a tear in a blood vessel. In the United States, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke each year. Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, and every four minutes someone dies from stroke. There are more than 140,000 deaths each year from stroke, therefore, it is important for you to know the risk factors. Stroke Risk Factors: High Blood Pressure, Obesity, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, AFib, Previous Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Age Greater than 65, Family History of Stroke, Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise, Stress and Smoking. •
Hypertension remains the single most important modifiable risk factor, accounting for nearly 48% of strokes. Eight in 10 people experiencing their first stroke have hypertension. Getting your blood pressure checked is an important first step in controlling your stroke risk.
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If you smoke cigarettes it is best to stop. The risk of stroke in current smokers is double that of non-smokers.
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Eat a healthy diet, including decreasing or eliminating the amount of saturated and trans fats consumed. Lowering sodium intake and eating more fruits and vegetables is important.
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Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, increases oxygen intake and helps to keep blood flowing smoothly, which will lower blood pressure. Exercise will also assist with maintaining a healthy weight.
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Recent studies have shown that stress can contribute to high blood pressure. Managing stress with relaxation techniques can assist with decreasing the risk of a stroke.
MAY IS STROKE
AWARENESS
MONTH!
Sadly, fewer than half of 9-1-1 calls for stroke are made within one hour of symptom onset and fewer than half of callers correctly identify stroke as the reason for their call. The acronym FAST is an easy way to identify the most common symptoms of a stroke: F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A – Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred? T – Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. It is so important to call for help early if you or someone you are with experiences any of the above signs and symptoms. The need for public awareness surrounding stroke prevention and awareness is important as stroke is the leading cause of adult long-term disability. Identifying signs early will allow for early treatment which results in better outcomes. Knowing the signs of stroke, how to prevent it and how to help others around you just might save a life. In 2018, MSLC received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for the 10th consecutive year. The award recognized the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate and timely treatment according to nationally recognized research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE According to most Americans the most common barrier to a healthy lifestyle is time. In our fast-paced society, finding the time to take care of ourselves can be a challenge. In order to address eating healthy there are a few tips that can help:
It is most important to work closely with your physician and health care team to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes. Your doctor may recommend different medications or procedures to help prevent a stroke.
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Having three or more of the risk factors will increase the risk of stroke. Please talk to your healthcare provider to determine your risk.
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During National Stroke Awareness Month, the National Stroke Association is urging all to look at their stroke risk factors and make a pledge to make at least one change to reduce their stroke risk. Learning how to recognize a stroke is just as important as reducing your risk factors.
WANT TO HEAR MORE?
Listen to the MSLC Doc Talk podcast at http://bit.ly/mslcdoctalk
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Set aside a few hours each week to focus on meal planning, grocery shopping and meal prepping. Find a few good recipe sources that provide healthy and practical suggestions for you and your family. Plan for the week and plan to make extra food that can be used on those days when you and or your family are extremely busy with no time to cook. Keep it simple. A one-pan meal with chicken or fish and vegetables is an easy solution. Do batch cooking, Using leftovers can assist with food choices for other meals throughout the week. Making all of the dinners for the week and sorting the dinners can help save you time and allow you and or the family to eat healthy.
Make it a priority to eat healthy. Heart disease is becoming more prevalent in our society, as a result of the easy availability of fast food and high-calorie ready meals. Remember to improve your diet and ensure that you are eating plenty of foods that support your heart, reduce cholesterol and keep your arteries free of fatty deposits.
montefiore st. luke’s cornwall Cardiovascular Institute | (845) 561-4400 | www.montefioreslc.org