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FEBRUARY 8, 2008 – Instead of a heart-shaped
box of chocolates this February, consider giving your loved one
the gift of good health – encourage them to become heart healthy!
February, a month marked by romance and valentines, is also American
Heart Month.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women
in this country, according to the Centers for Disease Control. “Cardiovascular
disease affects more than 80 million people in this country, and
claims the life of one American every minute,” says Moshe
Bacharach, M.D., Chairman of Cardiology at Kimball Medical Center
in Lakewood. “Unfortunately, many people don’t know
they have heart disease until they have a heart attack.”
According to Dr. Bacharach, heart disease begins when cholesterol
and other fatty substances start to adhere to the walls of our arteries.
This build up eventually hardens into plaque narrowing our arteries
and making them less flexible. “Blood flow through the arteries
is restricted and eventually this can lead to a heart attack, the
formation of blood clots, or stroke,” says Dr. Bacharach.
“There are several risk factors that contribute to whether
or not you will develop some form of cardiovascular disease in your
lifetime,” explains Dr. Bacharach. “Some of these risk
factors are beyond our control, such as gender, family history and
age,” he says. Men, according to Dr. Bacharach, have a higher
risk of developing cardiovascular disease than women, although more
women die from the disease than men. People with heart disease in
their family are also at greater risk, and the odds of developing
cardiovascular disease tends to increase as we age.
“There are risk factors, however,” he adds, “that
can be reduced or eliminated by adopting a healthier lifestyle.”
These risk factors, he notes, include smoking, high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes.
So how can you reduce your risks for cardiovascular disease and
start living a heart-healthier lifestyle? Dr. Bacharach recommends
the following steps:
· If you smoke, quit. According to the American Heart Association,
smokers may be up to four times more likely to develop heart disease
compared to nonsmokers. Quitting now can eventually reduce a smoker’s
risk for heart disease to that of a nonsmoker.
· Control cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Have these
levels checked annually to determine if they’re high. Following
a low-fat diet and increasing your activity level can help lower
your cholesterol and blood pressure to healthier levels. In some
cases, your doctor may prescribe medications to help further reduce
your numbers.
· Watch your weight. Being overweight significantly increases
your odds of developing heart disease. In fact, the heavier you
are the higher your risk. Losing five to ten percent of your body
weight can help reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular
disease.
· Choose heart-healthy foods. Your diet has a major impact
on your risk for developing heart disease. Reduce greasy, fried
and fatty foods, and limit red meat in your diet. Increase fresh
fruits and vegetables, lean meats such as poultry and seafood, and
add foods that are high in fiber.
· Increase your activity level. Exercise helps make your
heart stronger, more efficient and improves circulation throughout
the body. It also helps control other risk factors including obesity,
diabetes and high cholesterol. Strive for at least 30 minutes of
moderate exercise five days a week and strength training twice weekly.
Choose activities you’ll enjoy and be more likely to stick
with. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
· Keep blood sugar under control. If you have diabetes,
chronic high blood sugar can narrow your arteries and increase your
risk for heart disease. People with diabetes also tend to have lower
levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and increased levels
of triglycerides (blood fats), adding to your risk for heart disease.
“Heart disease is definitely a major health threat to Americans,”
says Dr. Bacharach, “but it’s important to recognize
that in many cases we have the ability to prevent it. Making some
small basic changes in our lifestyle today, can have a huge impact
on our heart health in the future.”
Take time this month to become heart healthy. Talk to your doctor
about your risk factors for heart disease and what you can do to
improve your health. If you haven’t had your blood pressure,
cholesterol or glucose levels checked recently, call and schedule
an appointment today. To contact Dr. Moshe Bacharach, or to find
another Cardiologist affiliated with Kimball Medical Center, call
1-888-SBHS-123.
CONTACT: Kristine A. Brown
Director of Public Relations
(732) 557-3902
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