American Heart Month

HEALTH American Heart Month Managing Heart Health is a Lifelong Journey

Heart health is often something many people think they don’t have to worry about until their later years. However, Sara McMillan, the cardiovascular accreditation and quality coordinator with Norman Regional Health System, tells a very different story. “People think about heart disease as something they only have to worry about when they’re older,” McMillan said. “Your decisions from early in life can affect your heart health later in life. Even the foods you eat as a kid make an impact and developing good eating habits early on in life matters.” That’s her message to the young people she speaks to through Norman Regional’s educational outreach. “Eating healthy, exercising, not smoking - those habits are so much easier if you start earlier.” While genetics do impact your risk, lifestyle choices are a significant contributing factor. “Heart disease is the number one cause of death, not only in Oklahoma, but actually all across the nation. It is very important that we take care of ourselves,” explained interventional cardiologist Archana Gautam. “We Oklahomans need to make healthy lifestyle changes, and part of this starts with the diet.” Living in a landlocked state, many people do not automatically think to eat seafood to help fight heart disease, but Gautam said there is science to why people should. “As a cardiologist, we try to educate our patients about unsaturated fats versus saturated fats – that is, good fats and bad fats,” Gautam said. “We want people to work on substituting bad fat with the good fat, and fish is a prime food source because it has Omega-3 fatty acids, which are the good fats.” McMillan also says that it’s never too late to make a difference.

“No matter your age, if you start changing your bad habits and living healthier, you can see results. Even if you’ve smoked all your life, there is a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, even in that first year.” McMillan shared some key things people of all ages can do to reduce their risk of heart disease. She put an annual checkup with your primary care doctor as priority number one, even for those in their 20s and 30s. “It’s important to know your numbers, paying attention to blood sugar levels, cholesterols, your lipids,” McMillan advised. “So many young people are just naturally thin, but you could still be doing damage to your heart.” Second and not surprisingly, she suggested focusing on living a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, regular exercise and quality sleep. It’s easy in those early years to put sleep on the back burner, but you should try to get six to eight hours of sleep, McMillan said. As the years progress, other health factors come into play. In your 40s and 50s, the body’s metabolism begins to slow down and stress levels tend to increase. McMillan said. People should pay attention to their body fat, learn how to manage stress and know the warning signs. “Your risk naturally increases with age, especially for women after menopause,” she said. “Most of the time, heart disease is not sudden. People have warning signs and ignoring them can cause damage to their heart.” Symptoms can include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain and nausea. However, symptoms can vary, especially for women.

“Women’s symptoms are usually more atypical,” McMillan said, listing fatigue, sleeplessness, flu-like symptoms and/or pain in other areas in their upper body including the stomach, jaw or upper back. McMillan added one particularly important note. “Many of these symptoms could be confused as something else, but you’ll notice that symptoms get worse upon exertion and go away when you rest. If you have any concerning symptoms, get checked out. It’s better to find nothing than end up in a serious condition.” Once you reach 60, many of the same priorities remain including staying active and maintaining a regular relationship with your primary care doctor, but another factor rises in importance. McMillan said having a good social life is important too. “You might not be working and having those daily social interactions that can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure. People who are more active in retirement are more likely to live longer, so keep your friends close.” In observance of February being Ameri

can Heart Month, Norman Regional has some special events planned. Its annual Heart Health Fair returns on Feb. 18 at the Porter Campus Education Center. There will be educational booths focused on heart health with representatives from several of the health system’s departments, including The Health Club and Oklahoma Sleep Associates. During the second hour, Dr. Kyle Toal, Norman Regional chief cardiothoracic surgeon, and Benjamin Robinett, executive chef, will conduct a cooking demonstration with heart healthy recipes. The fair is free and open to the public. “At Norman Regional labs, you can get a free lab draw before the fair,” McMillan said. “You’ll get your results at the event and a free risk assessment.” Officials are also hosting a lady’s night out sushi night, titled Be Sweet To Your Heart. On Feb. 27 at the Countdown Event Center, 480 24th Ave NW, ladies can get all their heart health questions answered by an expert panel and take part in a sushi-making class. Tickets are $35 and activities begin at 6 p.m. To learn more visit www.normanregional.com. – 19SM