This month, focus on the heart

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jennifer K. Meeks
  • Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  February is heart month, which means focusing not only on heart-shaped boxes filled with candy, but one of the most vital muscles in the human body. Considering the heart beats hundreds of thousands of times in a single day, its understandable why it is so important to keep it healthy.

Heart disease has been reduced for the first time in many years, due in part to greater public awareness. However, approximately 400,000 people die of heart disease per year, making it still the greatest cause of death for both men and women. Lt. Col. Bradford W. Schwartz, physician's assistant, 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron here, provides suggestions for all servicemembers to keep their heart fit:

Diet and exercise
This will sound familiar; eat less red meat and more fish, particularly cold-water fish, such as halibut and salmon. Fish oil, which can also be taken alone as a dietary supplement, increases platelet count which is responsible for the blood's ability to clot. Pick an exercise you enjoy, such as a vigorous walk, bike or run so that it will not be a chore to do six times a week for thirty minutes.

Dental care
Everything in the body is connected, including the teeth. Gingivitis, the well-known plaque that can build on teeth if not brushed regularly, can affect the entire body and has been linked to heart disease.

Vitamins
In addition to fish oil, there are several over-the-counter vitamins that can promote a healthy heart. Baby aspirin, taken once a day, can prevent the internal blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes. Niacin is a combination of vitamin B and nicotinic acid, which reduces good cholesterol and decreases bad cholesterol.

Watch the numbers
Doctors originally considered the measurement 120/80 as the ideal for blood pressure. Today, doctors have learned that slightly lower is better, which is why today the new ideal is 115/70.

All of these tips, combined with regular check-ups, can greatly improve but cannot guarantee heart health. Colonel Schwartz urges people who may experience unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain to contact emergency personnel and your physician immediately. "Time is muscle," said Colonel Schwartz.