WNKY News 40 Health Reports: Staying Heart Healthy

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – It’s an annual thing…American Heart Month has been observed every year since 1964.

And for good reason. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.

You’re probably familiar with the classic symptoms of heart disease: chest pain or pressure, pain that radiates to your left arm or neck and face and shortness of breath.

But, according to Dr. Roshan Mathew, the Chief Medical Officer at Tristar Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green, not everyone experiences a heart attack the same way.

He said women may not feel chest pain the way men do and the pain may not radiate to their arms or neck and face, women may feel tired and have a lack of energy, as well as have shortness of breath.

Dr. Mathew also says diabetics feel heart attacks differently, too, since they may only experience fatigue and shortness of breath. For diabetics, heart disease can quickly progress to heart failure.

Even if you haven’t felt chest pain, you should talk to your doctor if you:

• Have a family history of heart disease
• Have shortness of breath
• If you often feel tired, this could be a sign of heart disease.

But there are things you can do to prevent a heart attack.

Dr. Mathew suggests staying active through regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet low in fat and cholesterol. He also says that controlling stress in your life can help keep your blood pressure lower.

And if you do feel chest pain or pressure…Call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest emergency department.