Have you noticed all the pink lately? Have you been swamped with breast cancer awareness on TV, the newspaper, even T-shirts? I've been thinking that the American Heart Association should have hired the same advertising agency. It seems we just aren't getting the message out about heart disease nearly as well as the breast cancer people and heart disease kills more people. Way more people. Lung cancer kills more Americans than breast cancer. That's not to say that breast cancer is unimportant. Thanks to the efforts of countless people, breast cancer deaths are on the decline due to early detection and treatment.
Let's take a moment to review some of the warning signs of a heart attack while remembering that for some, there will be no warning signs, only sudden death.
1. Chest pain or tightness, especially during exercise or exertion.
2. Shortness of breath
3. Pain in the shoulder, radiating down the arm or in the neck.
4. Nausea or sweatiness
Women often experience different symptoms than men. In fact, many report having no pain at all. Symptoms for women in addtion to those above are:
1. Unusual fatigue
2. Sleep disturbances
3. Anxiety
4. Weakness or dizziness
Let's also review some factors that can lead to heart disease.
1. Smoking
2. Excessive weight, especially around the waist
3. Diabetes
4. Family history
5. High blood pressure
6. High cholesterol
I hope I have given you some food for thought as we head into the weekend. I hope you will share this information with your loved ones. Let's raise awareness of heart disease and prevention.
About Me
- Lisa Tedder
- Arkansas
- I started this blog 4 years ago because people kept asking how my husband and I stayed so "skinny". Heart disease, stroke, Parkinson's and diabetes have all claimed victims in my family. After marrying Barry, a cardiologist, I became even more health conscientious. The birth of my children prompted me to learn more about nutrition in order to raise the healthiest kids possible. Food has always been important to my family and part of our celebrations. However, I have learned to cook in healthier ways than my parents while we still enjoy good food. Our health is largely in our own hands. I hope to inspire others that they can improve their health without a doctorate, a degree in nutrition or sports physiology. It does take a commitment to educating yourself and then following through. Disease seldom happens by chance; most often it is the result of choices we make, good or bad, like choosing to smoke or not exercising. I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines in my 60's; I want to still be dancing, still be laughing, still be in the game of life. In addition to my husband Barry, I have two children ages 14 and 17 plus 7 animals to keep me busy.
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