Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 24)

• Chest pain or discomfort • Pain or discomfort in the arm, back, Avoid an Emergency Stop heart attacks and strokes before they start with these preventive strategies. “Know your numbers,” says eight-year heart attack survivor Aaron Daniels. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar put your blood vessels at risk. Manage your stress. At the time of his heart attack, Daniels was in a high-stress job that was derailing his exercise, diet and sleep. Not only can stress tip you toward unhealthier habits, but stress hormones also can speed up your heart rate and constrict your blood vessels. Make your move. Active people are nearly twice as likely to avoid heart disease as inactive people. “A small investment in getting your heart rate up every day contributes mightily to your overall health, not only your cardiovascular health,” says cardiologist Janet Wright, M.D. Tiny can be mighty. To pursue a heart-healthier lifestyle, start small and build slowly. (Don’t try to change your diet, quit smoking and train for a marathon on the same day!) “We would prefer the magic bullet,” Dr. Wright says, “but small, incremental changes over time can have enormous benefit.” neck, jaw or stomach • Shortness of breath • Nausea, lightheadedness or a cold sweat When in doubt, call 911 and let the experts decide. “It takes well-trained physicians and nurses and lab tests and often imaging tests to conﬁrm a heart attack,” Wright says. “So why would anyone try to diagnose this at home? The risk if you guess wrong is enormous.” SPOT A STROKE FAST Strokes cause numbness or loss of function on one side of the body. “Our brain has two hemispheres, and strokes are usually on one side or the other,” Wright explains. So asymmetry— drooping or limpness on just one side—in the face or body is a red ﬂag for an observer. The acronym FAST can help you remember the signs of stroke: • FACE: Does one side of the face droop? • ARMS: Does one arm drift down when the person raises both? • SPEECH: Is speech slurred or strange? • TIME: If any of these symptoms are present, it’s time to act fast and call 911 right away. Clot-busting drugs may be an option if a person gets to the hospital in the ﬁrst few hours after stroke symptoms begin. A small number of strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain, which can produce an excruciating headache. But for the most common type of stroke caused by a blood clot within a narrowed artery, there typically is no pain, Wright explains. video Go to parrishmed. com/vimandvigor online to watch a video on keeping track of your cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Managing both is essential for minimizing your risk of heart disease and stroke. Know Your Numbers If you’re the one affected, “you should not get behind the wheel,” Wright says, “and you should not drive your loved one to the hospital.” It’s not just how fast you get to the hospital. Paramedics start treating someone on the way. HEART ON THEIR SLEEVE Daniels had dramatic pain that alerted his wife that something was wrong, but not everyone has a Hollywood-esque chestclutching moment. “People rarely use the word ‘pain’ to describe a heart attack,” Wright says. “Most people describe a feeling of heaviness, oppression, fullness or tightness. That tends to cause a delay in the recognition of the symptoms as coming from the heart. This delay in treatment puts the heart muscle in jeopardy.” Someone having a heart attack may say they have: IN THE BONUS ROUND “The ﬁrst thing I said when I woke up in the hospital was, ‘Tell my wife I love her,’ ” Daniels recalls. “My cardiologist said, ‘You can tell her yourself. You’re going to be ﬁne.’ ” Eight years after his near-fatal heart attack, “I really consider myself to be in the bonus round,” Daniels says. He’s consistent with his medication, checkups and healthy lifestyle choices. And he has never forgotten how his wife’s quick action made all the difference. 24 Vim & Vigor · W I N TER 2 012 http://parrishmed.com/vimandvigoronline http://parrishmed.com/vimandvigoronline http://parrishmed.com/vimandvigoronline

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Parrish Medical Center
Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
Cook Like a Pro
Living Well with Lymphedema
Because I Said So!
What’s Wrong with This Picture?
The Future Is Now
Everyday Hero
What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
Johnny Be Good
What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
We’ve Got Your Back
Bank on Your Health
Virtual Health
Community Health
Healthy Journey
Fit to Fight Fires
Foundation Focus
Ask the Expert

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Parrish Medical Center