Conventionally, February is known for a few things—great deals on furniture in honor of Presidents Day, a busy sports season, and Valentine’s Day.  In conjunction with Valentine’s Day, February is also American Heart Month, which is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and many other medical organizations as a yearly reminder to check your heart health.  Heart disease is the single greatest cause of mortality in the United States by a large margin, and experts consistently point out that prevention and routine checkups are the greatest strategies individuals can use to help avoid the most serious outcomes of heart disease.

Nell J Redfield’s Kathy Hubbard reminds Malad residents that “heart-health is something that affects everyone.  Finding anything that might be going wrong early is very important in the long run.”   High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and issues with blood sugar are signs that can point toward heart issues, and can easily be caught early on in lab screenings.  The hospital is working to promote the availability of such screenings to the public.

In addition to the hospital and clinic’s standard services for heart-health, a Self-Directed set of lab services are also being offered by Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital.  While the lab is kept busy with doctor-ordered testing, as well as industrial testing as required for the county, state, and other entities with legal testing requirements, private citizens can also obtain lab testing directly through the lab.

In addition to a general health panel testing the basic health markers, the lab offers blood typing, COVID PCR testing, Insulin, Iron, vitamin, and hormone level testing, prostate antigen, thyroid function, and others.  Of specific relevance to the heart health issue, the lab also performs a Lipid panel (which determines the levels of “good” and “bad” cholesterol in the system and overall heart health), as well as a Chem 14 heart function test.

The lab testing is outside of insurance, and requires payment at the time the results are given, though the rates are very low, with most tests costing around $25.  The friendly staff at the lab includes James Briscoe, Jase Johnson, and Brittni Leckie, who all have a lot of experience setting people at ease about blood draws and other anxieties people often encounter in a medical lab setting.  Many of the services which used to require a trip out of town can now be handled by your local hospital or clinic, so make sure to call them first if you would like to schedule any of the available testing panels.

According to the most recent figures available on the topic, one person dies in the United States every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease.  In 2021, 695,000 people died of heart disease over the year, accounting for fully twenty percent of all deaths during the year.  605,000 people had their first heart attack last year.  Many people survive multiple heart attacks before succumbing to a fatal one, though first attacks can often be fatal as well.  More accurate and responsive medical tests have also discovered that there are many more so-called “silent heart attacks” than were previously thought.  “Silent heart attacks” are so named because they occur almost without symptoms, leaving the victim unaware of the event until it is discovered during a later medical examination.  Despite the lack of co-occurring symptoms with a silent heart attack, the damage to the tissue is real, and the sooner doctors can become aware of it, the better the outcomes for treatment will be.  

A heart attack which does occur with symptoms will find victims experiencing one or more of the following: pain or discomfort in the chest area, which is often located on the left side of the body; weakness, faintness, or light-headedness; pain in the jaw, neck, or back; pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders; shortness of breath; occasionally, vomiting and nausea might accompany the other symptoms.  

Any time you or anyone else experience these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately and provide your location to the dispatcher.  The sooner a heart attack victim is able to receive treatment in a medical facility, the better the chance of limiting the damage done to the heart.  Some locations in town, such as schools and official government buildings, have Defib machines available in wall-mounted boxes.  Members of the public are encouraged by the hospital staff as well as representatives of Emergency Services to be up to date on CPR and First Aid training, which could be lifesaving in the event that they end up being the first responder on
a scene.  

No one is immune to risk for heart disease, but those at highest risk are those with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and smokers.  Other factors that increase heart disease risk include diabetes, obesity, dietary deficiency, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.

As with many other organizations, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is focused on heart health this month.  For the NHLBI, the most important factor to highlight is the benefit of working together with others to create mutual support networks for dealing with health issues.  According to the institute’s research, there are many provable positives to “having positive, close relationships” with others, including positive effects on blood pressure and weight.  

Numerous studies over the years have shown that stress is one of the leading aggravating factors in poor health outcomes, and numerous studies have also shown that maintaining strong social relationships has a profound impact on decreasing stress levels.  This is especially true when one considers that almost all of the recommendations for heart health work best in situations where participants feel supported by a group.  Exercise, for instance, is one of the most frequently cited strategies for improving heart health, and exercise is definitely something that is easier to keep on top of with a group of likeminded individuals encouraging each other.  Team sports like pickleball and even walking are recommended for keeping in shape.

A healthy diet, as well as things like quitting smoking and reducing drinking are also highly recommended by medical professionals, and again, are the most effective when they are participated in by groups working toward the same goals.  The NHLBI has created the hashtag #OurHearts to encourage people to strive toward heart health with others.  More information from the organization can be found at www.hearttruth.gov.

As the saying goes, “take care of your heart, and it will take care
of you!”