Heart Health – Avoiding Heart Attacks

by: Michael A. Loiz, Director of EMS

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So far this year, Stratford EMS has responded to over 300 requests for service related to heart attack symptoms and heart problems. Over the next few months, we will be working on several initiatives to enhance our capabilities to respond to heart attack requests. In the meantime, the most important thing is to understand how to prevent heart disease in the first place. Here are seven tips:

 

  1. Control your weight. One of the most important things you can do to prevent heart disease is to maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, talk to a registered dietitian about healthy ways to lose weight.
  2. Get regular physical activity. There are a myriad of cardiovascular benefits to regular physical activity (that goes beyond weight loss). Start off slowly, and build a plan that works well for you and meets your needs.
  3. Don’t smoke. If you already do, make plans to begin a smoking cessation program. Nicotine narrows and restricts blood vessels. You CAN stop the damage caused by nicotine.
  4. Maintain tight control over glucose. Tight control can prevent many complications from diabetes and also protects your heart. Shoot for an A1C reading of less than 7%.
  5. Lower your LDL cholesterol (the “bad” type). Both the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association recommend an LDL cholesterol goal of less than 100 mg/dl. Eating fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, ask your health care provider about omega-3 fish oil supplements.
  6. Control your blood pressure. All people with diabetes should aim for a blood pressure reading of less than 130/80.
  7. Consider incorporating aspirin into your daily routine. If you are older than thirty years of age, you may want to speak to your doctor about taking a baby aspirin daily. In addition, taking a multivitamin can be extremely helpful but remember, speak to your doctor first.

In the next article, well discuss identifying heart attack symptoms and what happens during a 911 call for heart attack. Stratford EMS wants you to always remember to Think “Safety First”!

For more information visit: stratfordems.org