February is Heart Health Month

February is National Heart Health Month. With heart disease as the leading cause of death for both men and women, it is important to know and understand everything about heart disease, and how to prevent heart disease.
Dr. Kian Ehsan, M.D., interventional cardiologist, at Acadian Medical Center gives informative and detailed information about heart disease.
One of the most important ways an individual can help to prevent heart disease is lifestyle modification. Ehsan said, “Children look up to us as their role models. They are beautiful, pure angels that learn their behavior from us grown ups. If children see their parents smoking and eating unhealthy then they will think its acceptable to do the same; it is a vicious cycle.
“If we live an active life style by exercising regularly, eating healthy fresh food with an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, and keeping our bodies pure of toxins, not only will we have a positive impact on our health and future but also on the health of our children and grandchildren.
“Even one puff of a cigarette may affect not only you, but it may affect the little grandchild you adore and love with every heart beat.”
Heart disease can be hereditary. Ehsan added, “Yes, heart disease can be hereditary and represents a combination of risk factors that are genetically determined such as diabetes and lipid or thrombotic disorders.
“We certainly cannot control the genes that are passed from our parents but we can exercise, eat well, and avoid other unhealthy habits to decrease the risk of heart disease.”
How can one control getting heart disease? “By controlling your cholesterol and blood pressure, daily exercise, stop tobacco usage and decrease intake of alchol and fatty food,” said Ehsan.
Diet and exercise can be helpful in the process of preventing heart disease. Ehsan recommends a DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). “I don’t believe in harsh dieting regements. I do recommend the DASH diet which is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, organic lean meats and poultry, nuts and beans.
“The DASH diet recommends limiting your intake of red meat and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages.
“As a tip, while at the supermarket it’s best to choose foods in the fresh aisles and stay away from items that are very processed and have a long shelf life. Soda and cold drinks are a source of empty calories. I also limit my fruit juice intake unless I am actually squeezing fresh grapefruit or orange juice.”
Making exercise a daily lifestyle routine can be helpful in prevention of heart disease. “With regards to exercise, I recommend joining a health club or going for daily walks. Try to exercise for at least 20 minutes five days per week.”
What are the signs that one may be experiencing a heart attack? Ehsan says most common sign of a heart attack is chest pain, usually described as a heavy feeling on the chest wall.”
“Some people have said it feels as though, an elephant is sitting on their chest, or compare the heaviness to a feeling of doom. Some may also experience pain radiating down to their arms, neck, or jaw. These symptoms are the typical presentation of a heart attack.
“We hear the term heart burn quite often. ‘Doc, I thought I was having heart burn and indigestion, but it turned out I was having a heart attack.’
Other signs of a heart attack can be back pain, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. “Women tend to experience the less typical symptoms. In patients with diabetes things become more atypical; some diabetic patients have silent heart attacks,” said Ehsan.
What kind of treatment or medication should a person take with heart disease? According to Ehsan, “To focus on coronary artery disease (blockage in the heart arteries) depending on your current medical history, being on cholesterol medication may help to decrease plaque buildup.
“Patients with coronary artery disease are typically on a baby aspirin (81mg), a beta blocker (to slow down the heart beat), and a cholesterol medication.
Ehsan added, “Time is muscle, for people who are having an active heart attack, “Every second counts. The faster we open the clogged artery, the faster we can save the starving heart tissue and possibly life.”
“If ever any one is having symptoms of a heart attack the best thing to do is to go to the nearest hospital.
If one is suspicious that they may have heart disease, first visit with your primary care physician.”
Ehsan said, “Primary care physicians are very well trained in detection of heart disease. Based on their findings and/or suspicion of heart disease, they can refer the patient to be seen by a cardiologist.
“You may consider seeing a cardiologist if you have symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, history of stroke, irregular heart beats, leg pain with walking, weakness on exertion, leg swelling, unable to lay flat in bed because of smothering feelings, heart murmurs or strong family history of premature heart disease,” Ehsan said.