MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – In your pursuit of a longer, healthier life, taking care of your heart may stand out as one of the most important things you can do for longevity.
Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. Doctors say most of the time those deaths are preventable.
Dr. Jon Pap and Joe Ackerman, RN of U.P. Health System – Marquette stopped by Upper Michigan Today to talk about heart health, heart disease, and risk factors you may or may not be aware of.
But first, Elizabeth Peterson and Tia Trudgeon share stories of the day.
Heart disease accounts for one in five deaths in the U.S.
Heart disease is an umbrella term that includes heart attacks, coronary artery disease, clotting, and more.
Cardiologists and other medical professionals say early awareness, action, and education need to start early to prevent disease.
Preventable heart diseases can be attributed to your lifestyle choices.
These include poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use. These lifestyle choices can then lead to other conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity, further increasing the risk for high blood pressure or cholesterol.
Stress and poor sleep are also contributing factors to heart disease.
Factors that may be out of your control include family history and congenital heart issues.
Dr. Pap explains that your risk factor for heart disease based on your family history is dependent on that family member’s age when they had a medical episode.
He and Ackerman agree that being honest with yourself and your doctors is the first step to addressing your heart disease risk factors.
This includes knowing your drinking, smoking, diet, and exercise habits, plus visiting your primary care provider yearly.
You can’t manage what you don’t measure, so once a year you should check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol to then take action to improve or maintain your health.
Dr. Pap says real-life heart attacks are rarely as dramatic as they’re depicted in movies.
Often, a heart attack sufferer won’t realize they’ve suffered a heart attack until it’s over.
If you believe you’re experiencing heart attack symptoms, call 911 or have a driver bring you to the hospital right away. Early intervention can prevent permanent heart damage.
Heart attack symptoms include pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, and shortness of breath with or without chest pain. Other symptoms sweating, nausea, and lightheadedness.
Knowing hands-on CPR could potentially save a life in the event of a heart attack.
Before you attempt CPR, call 911.
You will have to give chest compressions until medical staff arrive.
UPHS – Marquette has a heart and vascular team of more than 30 providers in specialties such as general cardiology, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, electrophysiology, cardiovascular surgery, vascular surgery, diagnostic testing, and cardiac rehab.
Dr. Pap says the only cardiology service the Marquette hospital does not provide is heart transplants.
To improve your heart health, the best first step is to visit your primary care provider at least once a year for an annual physical.
Your PCP can give you a baseline of your health status and steps you can take to improve your health.
You don’t have to make huge changes overnight, but small, healthy lifestyle changes over time have been proven to lower your risk of heart disease.
To learn more about UPHS and to find a provider, visit uphealthsystem.com or call 1-844-411-UPHS (8747).
You can watch Upper Michigan Today on weekdays at 9:00 a.m. on FOX UP or stream the show on your smart device with the TV6+ app.
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