Open Modal
On Air Now
Up Next

Health department remind residents this month about the dangers of Heart Disease

LaSalle County Health Department – Studstill Media Photo

OTTAWA – With February being American Heart Month, the LaSalle County Health Department wants to remind residents that heart disease is the number one killer of women in Illinois, and the U.S. While heart disease has traditionally been seen as a “man’s disease”’ one in three women dies of heart disease each year. Women are also more likely than men to exhibit signs of heart attack such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or back and jaw pain. Heart attacks are life and death emergencies where every second counts so we encourage people to know their risks.
Factors that may increase your chances of getting heart disease include
• High Blood Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Being Overweight
• Family history of early heart disease
• Age (55 or older for women)
• Being physically inactive
• Smoking
Some steps you can take to decrease your risks of heart disease is to know your numbers when it comes to cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition, controlling your weight, being physically active and decreasing your stress level can also have added benefits.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, do not wait before calling for help. Call 911 or get to the hospital right away.
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Sudden dizziness or lightheadedness
• Unusual upper body pain (arms, back, jaw)
• Skipped heartbeats
• Unusual or unexplained fatigue

Recommended Posts

Loading...