Download February 2017

February 2017
YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO HEALTH CARE AWARENESS
Doctor’s
Bag
Make a Difference During
Heart Month
DidUKnow?
Heart disease is the leading
cause of death in men and
women in the United States.
Fortunately, a lot of cases of
heart disease can often be
prevented through education
and awareness. February is
American Heart Month and
it’s the perfect time to join the cause and help make
a difference!
The symptoms of heart
disease can vary from person
to person, but often the first
sign that something could be
wrong is chest pain or heart
attack. Early medical treatment
is important for treating heart
disease, so everyone should
know the warning signs of a
heart attack.
Whether you want to help get the word out to your
family and friends, or your community, there are
a variety of ways you can participate in American
Heart Month.
According to the Center
for Disease Control (CDC),
someone having a heart attack
may experience:
Get the Word Out
•Chest pain or discomfort
that lasts more than a few
minutes.
•Encourage family and friends to recognize and
reduce their risk for heart disease by eating
healthy, staying active or quitting smoking.
•Suggest small positive changes, such as limiting
salt or taking a daily walk.
•Remind others to get their blood pressure
checked every two years starting at age 18.
•Cook a heart healthy meal for your family and
friends.
•Share interesting facts and statistics about heart
disease on social media.
Get Involved
•Join the American Heart Association’s national
movement – You’re the Cure.
• Shortness of breath.
•Jaw, neck or back pain or
discomfort.
•Nausea, light-headedness,
weakness or cold sweats.
•Arm or shoulder pain or
discomfort.
If you or someone you know is
experiencing several of these
symptoms and you think it may
be a heart attack, call 9-1-1
immediately.
•Celebrate National Wear Red Day on
February 3, 2017, by wearing red to raise
awareness about women and heart disease.
•Host an American Heart Month event at a local
recreation center to spread the word about the
importance of physical activity to prevent heart
disease.
•Host a CPR training event in your community.
These skills can help save a life in the event of a
sudden cardiac arrest.
Claims are administered by UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company.
Information Sources
CDC.gov, Heart Disease Facts (November 2016):
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.
Healthfinder.gov, American Heart Month
(November 2016): https://healthfinder.gov/nho/
februarytoolkit.aspx.
Heart.org, What is Cardiovascular Disease
(November 2016): http://www.heart.org.
Heart disease is the common
term used to describe heart
and blood vessel disease that
is categorized by the buildup
of a substance called plaque
in the walls of the arteries. As
plaque builds up, it narrows
the arteries, making it harder
for blood to flow through
or stopping blood flow all
together. Lack of blood to your
body’s organs can lead to:
Heart attack – When blood
flow to part of the heart is
blocked by a blood clot that
formed in the artery, it can
cause part of the heart to start
to die.
Ischemic stroke – The most
common type of stroke occurs
when a vessel that feeds blood
to the brain gets blocked,
typically from a blood clot.
Other types of heart disease
include:
Heart failure – The heart does
not pump blood as it should.
Arrhythmia – An abnormal
rhythm of the heart.
Heart valve problems –
Heart valves don’t open
enough to allow blood flow.
Risk factors including
cholesterol levels, smoking,
drinking too much alcohol,
an unhealthy diet and lack of
exercise can all lead to heart
disease. You should talk to
your doctor about all your risk
factors, including your family
history, to prevent heart disease.