Heart Heroes: How to Protect Your Heart and Live Longer
February is Heart Health Month. Why does the heart get an entire month dedicated to it? Is it that hungry for attention? Delusions of grandeur? We wish it were this comical, but unfortunately the reality is less kind.
Heart health is an important topic because heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1921. Why is that? Well, there are many contributing factors. Some factors are modifiable (things we can change), and some are non-modifiable ( things we cannot change). Let’s look at some of these.
Modifiable Risk Factors (Things we can change):
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), high cholesterol/LDL, tobacco use, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, poor quality diet, excessive alcohol consumption, etc.
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors (Things we cannot change):
- Age: The risk of heart disease increases with age.
- Gender: Men generally have a higher risk, though women's risk increases and may equal men's after menopause.
- Family History: A family history of heart disease increases an individual's risk.
Addressing modifiable risk factors through lifestyle changes and medical interventions can significantly reduce the incidence of heart disease. Awareness and preventive measures are crucial in the pursuit of reducing our risk.
So what can we do?
You’ll notice that many of the modifiable risk factors directly translate to our daily health habits. Think of human health the same way you think about the health of your vehicle. For that vehicle to stay viable, reliable, and long-lasting, we have to keep up with vehicle maintenance. The human body is no different. Therefore, lifestyle modifications can be one of the most powerful things to consider in the context of heart health (as well as most other bodily systems). This goes for those trying to prevent future heart issues, as well as those trying to reduce the risk of further complications.
Lifestyle Factors
- Quality nutrition & dietary changes
- Consistent physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Tobacco cessation
- Alcohol moderation
We hear these recommendations time-and-time again, but this is for good reason. These are those “vehicle maintenance” variables that we have to consider in order to best take care of this body that we live in. If you have questions about any of these, or need help with building a better system pursue your goals, contact your local VA dietitian, or contact the Marion VA Health Care System Nutrition department at 618-997-8210.
What else can we do?
Beyond lifestyle, there are other steps that can be taken to reduce risk and/or enhance quality of life for those dealing with cardiovascular issues.
Pharmacological interventions: Medications such as statins, antihypertensive medications, and antidiabetic medications can go a long way towards stabilizing risk factors that may exist beyond what lifestyle can remedy.
Screening and monitoring for things like blood pressure, lipids, and glucose can be invaluable towards staying ahead of the game.
Surgical interventions may be needed or considered in situations where a major issue needs addressed sooner than later. Some examples can be percutaneous intervention, bypass grafting, and even a full heart transplant.
We’re here to help!
Also, don’t forget about help from the professionals. This may include your dietitian, physical therapist, cardiology staff, and possibly even a cardiac rehab coordinator. Within the Marion VA, we have a program called Home-Based Cardiac Rehab (HBCR). HBCR is a twelve-week program that takes place in the comfort of the Veteran’s home. It uses technology to connect the Veteran with their Cardiac Rehab Provider who provides education on a heart healthy lifestyle, including:
- Medication management
- Individualized exercise program
- Heart healthy nutrition
- Stress management
- Tobacco Free
Cardiac rehab is for Veterans who have had:
- Recent heart attack
- Stent placement
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
- Stable angina
- Stable heart failure
- Valve replacement
- or repair
“In a study of U.S. military veterans, researchers noted that participating in home-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with a 36% lower risk of death compared to veterans who chose not to participate in cardiac rehabilitation.” - Source
For more information on the Home-Based Cardiac Rehab Program, please contact: Jacob Dust, Home Based Cardiac Rehab Dietitian, or Clinical Nutrition Services at 618-997-8210.
This year, let’s celebrate heart health by giving our heart a fighting chance.
Stay healthy, stay warm, and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help you along your journey towards better health and improved quality of life.
This blog post was a collaboration between Whole Health, Cardiology, and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Resources
World Health Organization (WHO)