Education continues on heart disease prevention

ALBANY — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with February being American Heart Month, there is increased attention for the impact the disease has.

“In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Knowing your risk factors for heart disease is vital,” Southwest Public Health District Director Dr. Charles Ruis said.

Tobacco use, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, lack of physical activity and diabetes are key heart disease risk factors that individuals can do something about, he said. Smoking is known to cause disease in the coronary arteries, which are the vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood.

To that end, tobacco should not be used by people who want to optimize their health, Ruis said.

“When these vessels become obstructed, a portion of the heart or the entire heart may cease to function – in layman’s terms, a heart attack,” he said.

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Health professionals recommend having it checked on a regular basis. Ruis noted that patients who have high blood pressure may be advised by their health care provider to make some lifestyle changes or to take medication.

“Your health care provider should measure your blood pressure at least once every two years if you have never had it or other risk factors for heart disease,” Ruis said. “If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure – also called hypertension – your health care provider will check your blood pressure more frequently to ensure you have the condition under control.”

High cholesterol is another area of concern when it comes to heart disease. Those who have already been diagnosed with high cholesterol or who have a family history of the condition may have it checked more frequently, he said.

“Your health care provider should check your blood levels of cholesterol periodically,” Ruis said. “If you have high cholesterol, medications and lifestyle changes can help lower the levels, thereby reducing your risk for heart disease.”

Another factor that can affect the risk of heart disease is diabetes, so those impacted may be recommended to adopt changes in their lifestyle to help keep blood sugar under control and reduce the risk for heart disease.

“If your health care providers thinks you have symptoms of diabetes, they may recommend you get tested,” Ruis said. “If you do have the condition, monitor blood sugar levels carefully and talk with your health care team about treatment options. If you have one of these — high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes — and take medication, always follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

“Never stop taking your medication without talking to your health care provider.”

Exercise is important to the health of the heart, Ruis continued. He noted that, along with regular exercise, a heart-healthy lifestyle includes:

— Eating a heart-healthy diet, limiting salt and excess calories;

— Avoiding tobacco products;

— Maintaining a healthy weight;

— Limiting alcohol use.

“The human heart is about the size of a person’s clenched fist and it never takes a vacation,” Ruis said. “It pumps blood 24 hours a day. Regular exercise can help keep the muscle of the heart strong and help keep the coronary arteries from becoming obstructed. Many experts recommend two and a half hours of exercise per week.”

The Georgia Department of Public Health Office of Health Indicators for Planning said 103,081 emergency room visits were reported in Georgia during 2016 due to major cardiovascular disease, including 4,087 in the Southwest health district and 777 in Dougherty County. In the same year, 133,863 hospital discharges were reported in the state due to cardiovascular disease, including 5,453 in the health district and 1,556 in Dougherty.

In 2016, 24,241 deaths were reported in Georgia due to cardiovascular disease. This included 1,071 in the health district, and 258 in Dougherty, data from OASIS said.

Jennifer Parks