LESSONS OF THE HEART

Most people know if you experience severe chest pain, chances are you are having a heart attack. Chest pain is often accompanied by pain in the arm and shortness of breath. Those who have had heart attacks report feeling like an elephant is sitting on their chests. Others feel an overwhelming sensation of being smothered. 

Women will often have pain in their jaw, neck, upper back, arms, shoulder, or abdomen. They may feel nauseated, sweaty, dizzy, unusually fatigued, or have shortness of breath. Women often have symptoms other than chest pain, making it easy to ignore that they might be experiencing a heart attack.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men. Over 610,000 people die of heart disease per year in the United States. The CDC predicts that one in every four deaths in America will be attributable to heart disease this year.  The American Heart Association reports the average age for the first myocardial infarction (MI) for men is 65.6 years and 72 years for women.  

The American College of Cardiology and the AHA predicts that over 720,000 people will experience their first MI this year, with over 335,000 suffering their second heart attack. The average survival rate for males over age 45 after the first MI is 8.4 years. For women, the survival rate after the first MI is 5.6 years.

Hypertension, smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity are the four leading causes of heart disease. One can lower their risk of having an MI by living a healthy lifestyle. 

Since we live in a golfing community, I might mention that riding in a golf cart for 18 holes does not equal the kind of physical activity recommended by the AHA. Walking between shots is a good alternative if it doesn't slow down play. While playing golf is preferable to sitting in a recliner, vigorous walking is better overall exercise.

I have found that trying to change many behaviors all at once leads to failure.  Start by setting achievable goals—walk ten minutes a day and increase the time by one minute a day until you’re at 30 minutes of uninterrupted brisk walking. If you're a smoker, talk to your physician about smoking cessation. You no longer have to go cold turkey. Medications can assist you in the process.  I have a good friend trying hypnosis to help him stop smoking. Many people have successfully used hypnosis. He’s a great guy – we need him in this world. 

My father was diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes at age 60.  He immediately started swimming or walking for an hour every day and diligently followed a diabetic diet.  His blood pressure and diabetes were soon under control, which resulted in him stopping taking medications for those conditions. My father lived a healthy lifestyle, played golf often, carried his bag while he walked the course until age 85, and died when he was 91.

If you are overweight, set goals for weight loss that are realistic and achievable.  I have struggled with excess weight for most of my life. My weight often changes every year or two with either a 40-pound weight gain or weight loss. Even though weight fluctuation is not recommended, I have had a good habit of walking for 45 minutes a day for years. Physical exercise has resulted in not being hypertensive or having diabetes, although the extra weight makes me high risk for those conditions.

Since the average age in Horseshoe Bay is over 65, most of us fall within the age risk for heart attacks. We are fortunate to have Baylor Scott and White Medical Center literally in our backyard, so receiving timely treatment is possible if we take advantage of it. If you experience any unexplained symptoms, call 911 to receive the first line of treatment from paramedics, who will transport you to the hospital quickly and communicate with emergency room personnel en route.  Patients presenting with chest pain receive top priority.

There is exciting research underway that helps restore heart muscle following a heart attack. Researchers at UT Southwestern have identified a cell that replenishes heart muscle by using a new cell lineage tracing technique. The researchers believe that by harnessing this ability, they may make new heart muscle when the heart has been damaged.

I pledge to take better care of myself. Won’t you join me?