Keeping a Healthy Heart

February is Heart Month, a reminder to take care of your heart

Cameron County – February is Heart Month, which is a great time to remind yourself and your loved ones to take care of your heart, because it’s the only one you have. Valley Baptist Health System is creating awareness all month long on the importance of eating healthy and staying active to keep your heart in top performing function.

“Decisions we make every day have a significant impact on our heart and our health,” said Dr. Charles Mild, Cardiologist for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. “It’s important to eat healthy foods, get moderate exercise, manage stress levels, quite the use of tobacco products and ensure you are making annual visits to your physician for regular check-ups.”

According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of all U.S adults have some type of cardiovascular disease, a percentage that reflects recently updated guidelines for treating high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

“Heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States,” said Mild. “We have to educate our community on the importance of taking care of your heart and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to know your numbers and where you fall for your Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and cholesterol. These numbers can alert you to a significant issue and in fact save your life.”

According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds. A heart attack occurs when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough blood flow.

“Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack is critically important for our community to be aware of,” said Mild. “Every second is critical for a patient experiencing a heart attack to prevent heart muscle damage or reduce the amount of damage. Activating 9-1-1 immediately is the most important step you can make for someone you suspect is experiencing a heart attack.”

This month, Valley Baptist Health System is hosting several community events to educate its residents on the importance of staying heart healthy. The community is invited to take part in the FREE Community Heart Health Fair on Saturday, February 23.

Community Heart Health Fair (FREE Event)
Saturday, February 23, 2019
7:00am-9:00am
Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen (Woodward Conference Center)
2101 Pease Street Harlingen, Texas 78550

Free Screenings:

• Cardiac risk assessment
• Health screenings
• Heart healthy eating information
• Exercise tips

The five major symptoms of a heart attack are:

• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
• Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint.
• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder.
• Shortness of breath.