Delta Regional Medical Center

Health Tips

Keep the Beat How To Protect Your Heart

Your heart is the strongest muscle in your body. Everyday, is beats an average of 100 thousand times, pumping about 2 thousand gallons of blood through 60 thousand miles of blood vessels. In a lifetime, it beats about 2 ? billion times, to pump 100 million gallons of blood throughout your body.

Your heart is divided into 2 pumps: the right side receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs to remove carbon dioxide and pick up fresh oxygen. The left side receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it through the body. The heartbeat is regulated with split-second accuracy by electrical signals.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. today. Fortunately, medicine has made great strides in preventing and treating heart disease. Theres a lot you can do to reduce the risk to you and those you love.

Some common heart conditions

High blood pressure (hypertension), the most common cardiovascular condition, occurs when small blood vessels become narrowed. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney failure or blindness.

Rheumatic heart disease Rheumatic heart failure is caused by rheumatic fever, which always begins with a strep throat. Rheumatics fever usually strikes children age 5 to15.

Congestive heart failure Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump blood effectively. It can cause fluid to build up in the legs, ankles, lungs and other parts of the body.

Congenital heart disease Congenital heart disease affects thousands of babies born each year. Most congenital heart disorders can be corrected or relieved by surgery.

Six Ways to help prevent heart disease

1. Control high blood pressure

High blood pressure often has no noticeable symptoms. A simple test is the only way to detect it. Have your blood pressure checked regularly.

2. Control Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body uses sugars and starches. Diabetes can lead to atherosclerosis, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Regular checkups can help detect diabetes.

3. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure, reduce weight, improve circulation, etc.

4. Eat a healthy diet

Follow your physicians guidelines for a low-fat, low cholesterol diet.

5. Dont smoke

Tobacco smoke constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure and heart rate, increases the level of fatty acids in the blood, and deprives red cells of oxygen.

6. Reduce stress

Outside pressures that make you feel tense inside causes your body to produce adrenaline. This increases blood pressure and heart rate. Stress may aggravate existing high blood pressure.

Protect yourself and those you love against heart disease.

Eat right and maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise regularly
Dont smoke
Minimize stress as much as possible
Get regular checkups and follow your health-care providers advice
Know the warning signs of heart attack
Take care of your heart...and live a longer, healthier life!

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