By Nanette Wiser
February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. The Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention wants to shine a light on hypertension (high blood pressure), a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Take action! Join an organized heart health walk in Tampa Bay or host a potluck with heart-healthy recipes. Be sure to schedule a comprehensive physical with bloodwork and review everything with your physician. Having either high LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) or low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)–or both–is one of the best predictors of your risk of heart disease. A blood lipid profile measures both your cholesterol numbers and your triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood that is a risk factor.
It’s important to know the signs of a heart attack, which may manifest differently for women vs. men. Symptoms include neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly (abdomen) discomfort; shortness of breath; pain in one or both arms; nausea or vomiting; sweating; lightheadedness or dizziness, unusual fatigue, or heartburn (indigestion).
Heart attacks are preventable, although genetics are a factor. Exercise is essential. Brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, playing tennis and jumping rope. Heart-pumping aerobic exercise is the kind that doctors have in mind when they recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity.
Turn over a new lifestyle leaf. If you smoke, stop. Limit sugar and alcohol intake. Enjoy heart-healthy foods such as leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens (known for their wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants). Add these to your shopping list: whole grains, berries, avocados, olive oil, walnuts, beans, dark chocolate, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, and trout), lean meats such as 95% lean ground beef or pork tenderloin or skinless chicken or turkey, eggs, legumes and tofu.
Mark your calendars now for The American Heart Association’s Tampa Bay Heart Ball 2023. It’s April 15 at Tampa Marriott Water Street. For more information, TampaBay@heart.org or 727-563-8006.
PS: The Cupid’s Undie Run on 2/11 helps raise awareness of neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The run helps fund NF research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF). www.paradisenewsfl.com/event/cupids-undie-run-2023