For many Americans, February is the month known for Valentine's Day, and they will be busy sending cards decorated with red hearts; however, many will ignore the needs of their own hearts.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women across the country and it can be prevented in most cases. For the past 47 years, the American Heart Association has worked with Congress and the president to make February "American Heart Month" to raise awareness about heart disease and preventative measures. The goal is to make Americans heart-healthy by urging them to reduce obesity, cholesterol and high blood pressure, to quit smoking and to increase their exercise in order to prevent this deadly disease.
One of the most common misconceptions with heart disease is that it is a "man's disease," but it is a leading cause of death for both men and women (second being cancer), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heart disease is also seen as an "older women's disease" and although it is the leading cause of death for women over 65, it is also the third-leading cause of death among 25- to 44-year olds.
For Amanda Mallory, a first-year graduate student in the clinical exercise physiology program, she and her family have been battling heart disease for generations. Her father, who is an avid athlete, had his first heart attack at 36 and was admitted to the hospital for a surgical procedure 10 years later when he thought another heart attack was on the way.
A self-professed "daddy's girl," Mallory said she was influenced by her father to adopt a healthier lifestyle, especially because heart disease is prevalent in her genetics from both sides of her family.
"I guess at a young age seeing him go through the treatments and not understanding why was scary for me," she said.
Her love of participating in athletics, such as gymnastics and swimming, enabled her access to exercise throughout high school to her college years, which she continues to see as beneficial.
"Exercise is important because it has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease," she said. "Exercise really is medicine. It should be prescribed as treatment as well as prescription medication."
Leonard Kaminsky, professor of exercise science at Ball State University and coordinator of the clinical exercise physiology program, said it is easy for younger people to procrastinate when it comes to preventing heart disease.
"It really is a choice, there are modifiable risk factors. Some may be more predisposed than others, especially those who have a family history [of heart disease]," he said. "It's better to change things now than when you're 30 or 40. It doesn't get easier when you're older."
Kaminsky suggests a healthier diet, but understands that eating some unhealthy foods has a social and cultural value. He doesn't want people to cut some foods altogether.
"Don't look at every product," he said. "After a week, look at the entire week [of meals]. If you have eaten some unhealthy foods, for the next few days be a little more conscious, eat some more fruit."
Mallory eats a lot of fish and chicken and avoids a lot of red meat, fatty foods and saturated fats. She limits her use of things such as salad dressing. And although she exercises regularly and watches her diet, she still feels as if she is not out of danger.
"Being in my major, you research on a daily basis the effects of [heart disease]," she said. "It scares you into being fit ... learning about all the negative effects of inactivity."
Research is done every day to identify risk factors earlier to prevent heart disease and heart attacks. Kaminsky and his team are studying an enzyme in the blood stream that may be used as an early indication of inflammation in the arteries, which can be associated with the disease.
"Learning these risk factors and modifications now," he said. "[Like] being physically active and composition of diet are things that can happen earlier to prevent things later."
Risk factors that can be changed
- Tobacco smoke
- A smoker's risk of heart disease is more than twice that of nonsmokers; it is also a risk factor for sudden cardiac death with patients with heart disease.
- High Blood Cholesterol
- Increases risk of heart disease.
- High Blood Pressure
- Increases the heart's workload and increases risk of stroke.
- Physical Inactivity
- Regular exercise helps against heart and blood vessel disease.
- Obesity and overweight
- People who have excess body fat, especially at the waist, are more likely to develop heart disease even if they don't have any other risk factors or symptoms because it increases the heart's workload. By losing as little as 10 pounds it decreases your risk.
- Diabetes
- Even if blood sugar level is under control, it is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
- Other risk factors
- Stress, drinking too much alcohol
Risk factors that cannot be changed
- Increasing age
- 85 percent of people who die from heart disease are 65 or older.
- Gender
- Men and women are at risk, but men can have heart attacks earlier in life.
- Heredity
- Children of parents who have heart disease are more likely to develop it.
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