By Nora Heston Tarte
Heart disease was ranked the leading cause of death amongst Californians in 2013. In San Joaquin County alone, an average of 696.3 people died each year from the disease. So how can you save yourself? Preventative heart attack care is key.
Heart attacks are caused by plaque (hardening of the arteries) that is present in the coronary arteries and becomes unstable, leading to an acute obstruction of the blood vessel. This means blood flow is interrupted and the heart muscle essentially dies, resulting in a heart attack, or myocardial infarction.
A person’s medical history as well as lifestyle can contribute to the likelihood of having a heart attack.
“There are several factors that we consider to help evaluate a person’s heart health and risk for developing heart disease,” explains Samira Jahangiri, MD, family practice physician with Dignity Health Medical Group Stockton. “We check for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease. We also look at lifestyle factors including whether or not the patient exercises regularly or uses tobacco.”
“People who consume diets that are low in fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to excess amounts of unsaturated fat are at risk for developing plaque in the coronary arteries,” says Steven LaViola, MD, at Lodi Health. “People who are sedentary are also at risk.”
Without the ability to control genetic markers that increase susceptibility, the most important step is to take care of yourself, especially when high blood pressure and diabetes is involved. “The presence of any of these indicators alone can mean that a person is at risk to develop heart disease, and the presence of multiple risk factors increases this possibility exponentially,” Dr. Jahangiri points out.
Aside from potential medical interventions, the treatment is the same—healthy diet, healthy lifestyle.
So what does living a healthy lifestyle entail? Put simply, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, exercise, meditate, eat healthy—including lots of fruits, vegetables, and brightly colored foods, —reduce stress, don’t smoke or hang around others while they smoke, get outside, and take care of your teeth.
In America, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, racking up a higher death toll than every kind of cancer combined, and the symptoms tend to look different than in men. Be prepared. Consult a doctor, get regular checkups, and know the gender-specific signs of heart disease. It could save your life.
*Based on annual averages from 2011-2013
Get Informed:
Dignity Health, St. Joseph’s Medical Center
1800 N. California St., Stockton
(209) 943-2000
StJosephsCares.org
Lodi Health
975 S. Fairmont Ave., Lodi
(209) 333-5160
LodiHealth.org