February is the American Heart Month! Each year, the AHA's annual Go Red for Women campaign encourages people all over the country to help raise awareness about heart disease – the number 1 killer of women – by wearing red.

When most people think of heart attacks, the first symptoms to come to mind are often those portrayed in movies or television, like sudden pain in the arm or chest. While those are symptoms of heart attack, especially in men, there are a lot of lesser-known signs, and the symptoms for women are often different. 

According to the AHA, warning signs in women include shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, feeling lightheaded, pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach and an uncomfortable pressure in the chest. Like with men, the most common symptoms for women are chest pain or discomfort, but women are more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea and back or jaw pain. 

To help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, we invite everyone to make heart-healthy changes during the month of February. When we work together, healthy changes are more achievable. To get started, here are a few tips:

Exercise – it’s a lot more than an energy booster and a stress reliever. It also strengthens your heart muscle, lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol and burns calories. To get started, choose an activity that makes your heart and lungs work harder than they do when you rest or walk normally. And don’t forget to engage in this activity regularly.

• Walking
• Swimming
• Bicycling
• Stair climbing
• Dancing

Eat right! Meal times have a big impact on your heart health. In fact, eating healthier can improve several of your heart risks at once. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 

• Limit saturated and trans fats.
• Reduce sodium intake.
• Manage caloric intake.
• Choose the right foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat or non-fat dairy.

[Source: StayWell Solutions]