Learn how to keep your heart healthy | Health – The Oakland Press

Theres no way around it: For a healthy heart you are going to need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

This likely includes many activities you are already familiar with: Cutting out sugar, eating more fresh produce, incorporating more whole grains, eliminating processed foods and decreasing your salt intake, for example.

It also includes plenty of physical activity, said Beaumont Health cardiologist Kavitha Chinnaiyan M.D. She recommends 30 minutes of exercise each day as well as making a commitment to staying active throughout your daily routine.

A half hour of continuous walking, running, swimming and dancing will get your heart rate up, she said. The key is consistency.

Any activity is better than no activity, she said. Its never too late to make healthy changes.

A healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, not smoking and reducing stress go a long way is boosting your heart health and preventing problems caused by coronary heart disease. However, Chinnaiyan said it is also important to know your familys history of heart disease and to also know about other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Establishing routine care with a family doctor is a good start toward a heart healthy lifestyle. Your family doctor can monitor your risks, provide screenings and share recommendations to put you on a healthier path. In general, she said everyone in their 20s needs to get their blood pressure checked while those in their 30s should also add a cholesterol screening.

Keep an eye on all your numbers and then around age 45-50, consider a calcium scoring heart CT completed, suggested Chinnaiyan. This non-invasive scan calculates your risk of developing coronary artery disease by measuring calcified plaque in coronary arteries. Depending on the level of calcification, your doctor may recommend medication or lifestyle changes.

If you suspect a potential heart problem, trust your intuition, she said. Some signs and symptoms to watch out for include:

Not feeling well enough to do the things you used to do

Discomfort in the chest area

Shortness of breath

Being unusually tired

Pain in the neck and/or jaw

If you experience a sudden onset of these symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately, said Chinnaiyan.

While many people imagine a heart attack as a dramatic event with the victim clutching their chest and writhing in pain, the fact is many people present with more subtle symptoms, especially women. According to Chinnaiyan, women tend to have atypical symptoms like just not feeling well, fatigue and shortness of breath.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, killing one woman about every 80 seconds. The organization also emphasizes that cardiovascular disease is not just a problem for older women or men, saying that heart disease and stroke can affect a woman at any age, and new research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women.

Chinnaiyan said some heart issues that may affect children include abnormal heart rhythms and congenital heart diseases. Regular well child visits, routine physical exams and knowing your familys health history can help determine a childs heart risk or identify a potential problem.

Parents may want to also consider attending a student heart check clinic designed for students ages 13-18. Beaumont offers student heart checks on specific dates throughout the year that include a medical history evaluation, blood pressure check, physical examination, electrocardiogram, or ECG and an echocardiogram, quick look. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, visit Beaumont.org.

The American Heart Associations signature movement Go Red for Women, held annually throughout February, aims to raise awareness of a womans number one killer: Cardiovascular disease.

The American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of one in three women. For 16 years, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness.

The movement challenges women to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. This year National Wear Red Day is Feb. 7.

For more information, visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).

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Learn how to keep your heart healthy | Health - The Oakland Press