February is American Heart Month
- Posted by Barrington Hills
- On February 5, 2024
February is designated as American Heart Month to bring awareness to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US, especially among women.
Half of all Americans have at least 1 of 3 key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. 1 Take steps to lower your risk for heart disease by changing factors you can control:
- Eliminate the use of tobacco
- Eliminate a diet high in saturated fats, trans fat and salt
- Get plenty of exercise
- Limit daily intake of alcoholic beverages:
- Women should have no more than 1 drink a day
- Men should have no more than 2 drinks a day
Save a life by recognizing the symptoms of heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest.2
Heart Attack Symptoms
Chest Discomfort
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in Other Areas of the Upper Body
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of Breath
With or without chest discomfort.
Other Signs
May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Other Signs
May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Stroke Symptoms — Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T.
Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift Downward?
Speech Difficulty
Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time to Call 911
If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately.
Cardiac Arrest Symptoms
Sudden Loss Responsiveness
No response to tapping on shoulders.
No Normal Breathing
The victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds.
For more information, visit these links:
— cdc.gov/heartdisease
—heart.org
