Listen up women: Start today to make your heart healthy

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Valentine’s Day is over. It’s time to toss the empty heart-shaped boxes and hang the roses upside down to dry to preserve their beauty. While the memory of this romantic holiday will live on, if you’re lucky through a sparkling diamond pendant, the shape of your heart should be front and center in your memory bank as well.

Did you know that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women past the age of 25 and that “about one out of every 21/2 women’s deaths result from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases” according to the American Heart Association? To compare, breast cancer accounts for one in 30 women’s deaths, they said. Did you know that 65,000 more women than men die of heart and related diseases per year?

Listen up ladies, this is serious business. This sobering information might even get me exercising on a regular basis, which is only one of the recommendations to reduce the risk of heart disease. (Nothing I’ve read so far bans chocolate, so risk reduction seems doable.)

A great way to jump-start the resolve to “get heart healthy” would be to attend the informational booths and health screenings section of the Go Red for Women Conference 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor. The public is welcome to visit the vendor booths sponsored by area businesses, organizations and health care companies.

“We have an arrangement with the Bangor Y to have hands-on assessments of a variety of things,” said Deb Farnham, regional director for the American Heart Association. “We will have blood pressure checks, body mass indexing, and help for people who want to work out at home by demonstrating the correct way to lift weights plus information on diabetes, smoking cessation, weight control, measuring people’s strengths, hormone replacement therapy and so much more. And it’s free. We really want people to come and learn how to reduce their risks for heart disease.”

So what are some of the risks?

. Smoking. The reasons that smoking is dangerous are too numerous to mention – but just stop now. By quitting you will cut your risk for heart disease in half.

. High blood pressure. The plaque build-up on the artery walls may be increased by the stress of high blood pressure.

. High cholesterol. Build-up in the artery walls makes the heart work harder.

It is also important to be physically active, watch your weight and reduce stress levels. Being under stress can raise adrenaline levels in your body, which raises your heart rate and blood pressure. This can cause your arteries to tighten and narrow.

We all know the devastation a heart attack can bring to both sexes, but symptoms can differ between the two groups.

It is important to note that a woman’s symptoms of a heart attack, as opposed to a man’s, are often vague and can be misdiagnosed, said Mary Sidell, registered nurse and member of the American Heart Association local board of directors.

Symptoms can be present for years but may accelerate as long as a month prior to the heart attack itself. And some women may have heart disease without even realizing it, she said, adding that the risk increases with age – especially in post-menopausal women who no longer produce estrogen.

Women having a heart attack may experience symptoms such as:

. Mild chest pain.

. Unusual fatigue.

. Pressure or pain in the upper back, shoulders, neck, jaw or arms.

. Shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.

. Light-headedness, weakness and dizziness.

. Breaking out in a cold sweat.

. Nausea, or stomach or abdominal pain.

. Unexplained feelings of anxiety or dread.

. Discomfort, fullness, tightness, and squeezing or pressure in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or is regularly repeated.

. Increase in fluid retention.

. Unexplained coughing.

The tests used to diagnose a heart attack are sometimes inconclusive in women and follow-up is necessary, said Sidell.

“The bottom line is to not ignore symptoms and to listen to your body,” she said.

If you are having any of the above symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. While it may turn out to be nothing, time is of the essence if there is a problem. Be sure to have a thorough cardiac evaluation including an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram and a blood test to check your cardiac enzymes.

“The heart is the main organ that keeps everything else going,” Sidell said.

And start now, said Farnham. “Minimize the risks, change what you can,” she added. Begin where you are, it can only get better – but if nothing is done, risk increases.

For information about the conference or registration, call the American Heart Association at (800) 937-0944, or 848-2888. Registration deadline is noon Friday, Feb. 25.

“The earlier we take care of our hearts, the better,” Farnham said. “Come to the conference or stop by the health vendor room area and bring a friend or family member. Good habits can start anytime. You’ll both live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.”

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.