February 6, 2009 is National Wear Red Day

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. You can help fight heart disease by wearing red as a show of your support for Go Red For Women. We hope you find the tips helpful. Please dust off that red dress and show your support on February 6th for American Heart Month!

Small, Simple Choices Make a Difference

• Plan for a yearly checkup and use this time to speak with your doctor about how you can reduce your risk for heart disease
• Get active! Step, march, or jog in place while watching your favorite TV show for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
• Quit smoking! Try cutting the number of cigarettes you smoke each day in half; then cut that number in half; cut it in half again; finally, cut down to zero!
• Drop a few pounds! You can lose 1 to 2 pounds per week by cutting 500-1000 calories per day and increasing your physical activity.
• Watch the salt! Check out the nutritional facts panel on packaged foods to see how much sodium (salt) they contain. For average Americans, limit your salt intake to 2,300 mg per day.
  
  
  
  

Heart Attack Signs

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most of them start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• 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. This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

If you or someone you are with has one or more of these signs, call 9-1-1.Get to the hospital right away!

If you are the one having symptoms, and you can't access the EMS, have someone drive you to the hospital right away. Do not drive yourself, unless you absolutely have no other option.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

Stroke is a medical emergency. Every second counts, because time lost is brain lost! Know these stroke warnings and teach them to others.

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance—ideally with advanced life support can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you will know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.