February was Cardiovascular Awareness month…but taking care of your heart should be a goal every day not just in February.
The #1 cause of death in the US is associated with Cardiovascular Diseases and the #4 cause is due to cardiovascular accident (CVA) also known as a stroke.
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
MI is also known as a heart attack. It occurs when there is a blood clot in the blood vessels that supplies the heart. When there’s an obstruction in the blood vessel, the body works harder to supply the organs, like the heart, with optimal blood flow and oxygen.
According the American Heart Association, a heart attack occurs every 34 sec.
What are signs and symptoms of a heart attack?
- Chest discomfort: pressure, squeezing sensation that lasts more a few minutes and return
- Radiating pain/discomfort: arm, back, jaw or stomach (usually on left side)
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Nausea
- Lightheaded/fainting
Women often presents different signs other the classical heart attack symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue
- Upper back pain or pressure
- Nausea/vomiting
- Jaw & neck pain
Cardiovascular Accident (CVA)
CVA is also known as a stroke. This occurs when there is a blood clot or hemorrhage in the blood vessel that supplies the brain.
According to the American Heart Association, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds and every 4 minutes someone dies of a stroke.1 in 18 deaths are related to stroke with more than 137,000 people a year.
What are signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Remember the acronym FASTO
F: face drooping (one side feels numb)
A: arm weakness
S: speech difficulty (slurred speech)
T: time to call 911
O: others (vision changes, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache)
Should I take Aspirin if I think I am having a heart attack?
If you suspect that you are having a heart attack, follow the steps below. It may save your life!
Harvard studies showed that chewing aspirin can reduce 50% of platelet activity (decrease blood clot). The studies reported a comparison of effectiveness with the different ways to take aspirin during a heart attack.
Chewing tablets: 5 minutes
Dissolvable form: 8 minutes
Swallowing tablets: 12 minutes.
1. Call 911
2. Chew on 1 tablet of 325mg Aspirin (non-enteric coated aspirin) for 30 seconds prior to swallowing on an empty stomach.
3. Wait for emergency responder to arrive
****Do NOT take Aspirin if you think you might be having a stroke or allergic to aspirin. Aspirin will worsen the hemorrhagic stroke and can cause more bleeding in the brain, which could be fatal. Be safe and call your doctor is you are not sure of your symptoms.
What are some heart health nutrients?
- CoQ10
- Vitamin D
- B Vitamins & Folic
- Magnesium, Potassium
- Antioxidants: Vitamin C/E, Se, etc
- Hawthorne Berries
- L-carnitine, Arginine
- Omega 3
Tips on preventing heart disease:
- Lifestyle: quit smoking, limit alcoholic use, manage stress, and incorporate daily movement therapy (walking, exercise, yoga, etc)
- Nutrition: consume whole foods (high fiber, whole grains, good fats) and AVOID GMO & processed foods
- Control blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose
There are more nutrients that the heart needs to function at an optimal level. If you have questions about specific dosages and would like to try alternative therapies to address your heart condition, call Dr. Chhun-Lum to schedule a consultation appt. Take care of your heart now…Don’t wait until it’s too late! (916) 895-1630
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