newjerseynewsroom.com

BY WARREN BOROSON

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

HEALTH MATTERS

The No. 1 killer of men over 25, throughout the world, is heart attacks. One of every four men die of heart disease. Yet it’s probably safe to say that many men don’t know the best ways to avoid heart attacks.

And don’t think women shouldn’t worry, said Patricia Delaney, a cardiac nurse at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, in a talk she gave recently to members of Hobbyists-Unlimited. One in three women, she pointed out, dies of heart disease – and the percentages have been increasing since 1984.

Some things you can do, she said, will lessen the chances of your heart misbehaving.

Risk factors that you cannot change:

• Advanced age. For men: over 45. For women: over 55.
• Family history of heart problems.
• Diabetes.

Diabetes weakens the artery walls, Delaney said, making them more vulnerable to cholesterol. “It’s important, if you’re diabetic, to control it well,” she said. “And there’s no early warning. You don’t feel any pain.“ Nearly 50 percent of American men who die suddenly of a heart attack had no earlier symptoms, and nearly two-thirds of the women.

Even without taking medications, she emphasized, a person can decrease the risk of heart attack by 82 percent.

In general, the lower your blood pressure, the better, she went on, and below 120/80 is good. Regular exercise may bring the numbers down.

Also desirable is a low cholesterol level, and an appropriate diet – with plenty of fruits and vegetables – may lower the level. Statins can help, too, she said, and they’re getting better.

Stopping smoking, of course, should contribute enormously in prolonging someone’s life.

Keeping active is also beneficial. “Get out there,” she said. “Walk around, get around, do stuff.” Don’t take the elevator; take the stairs.

Alcohol may be helpful, she said – in moderation.

The earlier a heart condition is identified, she continued, the better.

Possible signs of trouble: fatigue … not sleeping well … shortness of breath … A problem is that some people don’t tell their physicians these things – like shortness of breath.

Members of her audience asked about atrial fibrillation, and Delaney said the condition is quite common among older people. New drugs, like Pradaxa, may obviate the need for patients to have regular blood tests, as they must with regular blood thinners.

She warned about people taking “medications,” like red yeast rice. They may lower your cholesterol level, she said, but cause side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding. “If you hear about a great new medicine,” she said, “run it past your doctor. And don’t be the first to take it. Wait till you find out about possible side effects – and maybe by then the price may have come down.”

Delaney is director of Cardiac Outreach and Service Line Development at Valley Hospital, and the Center for Women’s Heart Health. She has been a nurse for over 30 years in cardiac surgery and critical-care nursing.

This is the first in series by Warren Boroson about health matters. Future subjects: kidney problems, eye problems, proper nutrition, proper exercise.