The first Friday of February is celebrated as National Wear Red Day®. In an effort to highlight prevention and awareness of heart diseases in the United States, individuals wear red and participate in educational events connected to heart health. In 1964, 9 years after his own heart attack, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared February as National Heart Health Month.
Statistics to know:
- 1 in 3 – The number of adults who suffer from high blood pressure.
- 80% – The percentage of heart diseases that are preventable with regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, and maintaining a healthy diet.
- 50% – The percentage of women who die within five years of having a heart attack.
- 43 million – The number of women who currently have some type of heart disease.
- 655,000 – The number of Americans who die annually from heart disease.
- According to the CDC, heart disease is the #1 killer of women attributing to 1 in 6 deaths.
On a positive note, heart disease is largely preventable. Here are some basic tips:
- Eat foods that promote heart health.
- Avoid smoking tobacco products.
- Make sure you’re getting physical activity (30 minutes for 5 days a week).
- Talk with your doctor to make sure you’re keeping track of your blood pressure and other potential warning signs.
Orleans Community Health offers several services to promote heart health. These include:
Electrocardiograms (EKG): Electrocardiograms are an innovative diagnostic tool. An EKG records the electric signal from your heart and is useful in detecting arrhythmias, heart attacks, and heart failure.
Echocardiograms: An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound that uses two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound waves to create a clear image of the heart. This image can then be used to diagnose conditions that affect the heart’s valves and chambers.
Vascular Ultrasounds: Using similar techniques to an echocardiogram, vascular ultrasounds form images of blood vessels. At Orleans Community Health – Medina Memorial Hospital, we use this tool to diagnose blood clots, blockages, and other sources of congestion.
Cardiac Stress Tests: Orleans Community Health – Medina Memorial Hospital uses cardiac stress tests to measure your heart’s ability to respond to stress, such as exercise or other stimulation. A stress test is an essential tool for identifying problems with blood flow, like blockages, or arrhythmias aggravated by stress.
For more information, visit Cardiac Services – Orleans Community Health.