The month of February is RED month which is promoted through Heart Research Australia. This is a fantastic organisation which dedicates time and money towards innovative research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease within Australia.
February is therefore used to not only raise funds for this organisation but to also RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HEART DISEASE.
Heart disease affects many Australians every year and statistics show that it is highly likely you or someone close to you has at one stage been affected by heart disease.
Another important fact to remember is that Heart Disease not only affects men. Heart Disease affects many Australian women also, with 1 in 3 having heart disease.
What is Heart Disease?
The term “Heart Disease” is actually an umbrella term for a range of conditions and disorders which affect the heart.
These include:
The term “Heart Disease” is actually an umbrella term for a range of conditions and disorders which affect the heart.
These include:
- Blood vessel diseases i.e. coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis- a build of plaque on the arterial walls)
- Heart rhythm problems i.e. arrhythmias
- Heart valve problems i.e. stenosis
- Heart defects you’re born with i.e. congenital heart defects
- Heart attack
- Stroke
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are usually caused by lack of blood (oxygen) flow to required areas due to narrowed, blocked or stiffened blood vessels. These include:
Symptoms are usually caused by lack of blood (oxygen) flow to required areas due to narrowed, blocked or stiffened blood vessels. These include:
- Chest Pain (Angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms
- Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back
What to do about Prevention?
Take the 4 M approach! (Heart Research Australia)
Take the 4 M approach! (Heart Research Australia)
Movement and Exercise
What are the benefits of exercise in preventing Heart Disease?
- Weight reduction and maintenance
- Increasing the “flexibility” of the heart vessels (lowering blood pressure)
- Increasing the regularity of the heart beat
- Improvements in cholesterol
- Improvements in muscle tone (body is better able to use the oxygen in your blood)
- Improvements in mood
What to do now?
Educate others- make sure friends and family know the risks of heart disease and more importantly, how they can prevent it and live a healthy life!
- Go out and get active!
- Make sure you are having regular check ups with your Dr and inform them of any changes
- Know your numbers! Know your blood pressure reading, your cholesterol readings and know what they should be for you.
- Visit Heart Research Australia to find out more information or to fundraise for Red February! (http://www.heartresearch.com.au/38.html)
- Wear Red on the 26th February
- Watch this light hearted approach to Heart Disease (particularly for women) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7wmPWTnDbE
