A Lifestyle Plan to Prevent the Worst Heart Break of Them All – Your Own

Most people think of February as the time to celebrate love, but it is also the time to take a moment to care for your own heart, not just emotionally. As Heart Month, February is designated as the time for everyone to learn more about heart disease and how to prevent it, and the American Heart Association sponsors the Go Red for Women campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

Unfortunately, most people do not know that heart disease kills more women each year than the next six causes of death combined. In fact cardiovascular disease will kill nearly 1 in 3 women, compared with 1 in 40 who will succumb to breast cancer.

To help women ward off this often silent killer, cardiologist Renee Bullock-Palmer, MD, Director of the Women’s Heart Center and Director of Non Invasive Cardiac Imaging at Deborah Heart and Lung Center, encourages women to focus on prevention.

“Studies have shown the presence of fatty streaks, which are the precursors to plaque, in large blood vessels such as the aorta as early as teen years, which is why women should begin a healthy lifestyle early on in an effort to prevent cardiovascular disease later in life,” explains Dr. Bullock-Palmer.  “It’s also important that we teach our children by example.”

Dr. Bullock-Palmer recommends that women follow these simple lifestyle tips:

• Reduce or eliminate saturated and trans fats
• Minimize intake of food and beverages with added sugars
• Maintain regular physical activity
• Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods
• Don’t smoke. This is the single best heart friendly thing a woman can do

“While it is important to focus on healthy living throughout your life, it is never too late to start taking care of yourself,” encourages Dr. Bullock-Palmer. “If you smoke, quit. If you don’t exercise, start – under your doctor’s supervision, of course. If you are not eating a healthy diet ask your doctor or a nutritionist to help you get on the right track. As women we need to make ourselves a priority.”

Unfortunately, leading a healthy lifestyle is not always enough to prevent heart disease. This is why regular medical screening and early detection are so critical. It is never too early to stay on top of your heart health.

“I think every woman should know their blood pressure and have their cholesterol screened by the time they are at least 40 years old, and continue to monitor these critical numbers as they age,” said Dr. Bullock-Palmer. “The timing and intensity of other screenings will depend on a woman’s risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strong family history, diabetes, smoking, obesity and presence of symptoms.”

For women with the above risk factors or any symptoms of heart disease, Dr. Bullock-Palmer suggests seeking out medical advice right away. Early detection can be the difference between life and death.

February is the perfect time to start and take charge of your heart and your overall health!

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ is an 89-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, research, and treatment of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has been a regional and nationally recognized leader throughout its 100-year history, during which time it has healed 2.3 million patients from every corner of the United States and 87 countries in the world. From performing the first open heart surgeries (adult and pediatric) in New Jersey, to running one of the highest volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the region, Deborah has stood at the forefront of medical innovation, all while never wavering from its founding mission “there is no price on life.” Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in the country; and is designated a national Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.