Participate in your loved one’s heart healthy diet
Keeping up with a healthy diet is easier when you’re working as a team. Take turns planning and cooking meals that support heart health. Avoid foods that are high in cholesterol and eat plenty of whole grains. Try this heart healthy foods shopping list when you go to the grocery store.  Make a pact to avoid eating fattening, unhealthy meals or overly large portions.

Exercise with your loved one
Develop an exercise routine that works for both of you. If you plan to work out together a few times a week, you may be more likely to stick to the routine. Hold each other accountable for keeping up with moderate exercise doing things you both enjoy. Gently remind your loved one to stay active whenever possible.

Help your loved one do research
Participate in learning about your loved one’s heart disease. Ask your doctor for pamphlets and browse trusted websites such as Healthfinder. By understanding your loved one’s heart disease better, you can become a more active partner and caregiver. Learn the signs of heart attack and what to do in case of an emergency. Consider running through a brief emergency drill together.

Remind your loved one to take medication properly
Help your loved one remember to take medication as advised by his or her doctor. If you take medication as well, try setting an alarm you can both respond to. Keep medications in a central but safe area in the home so they’re easy to get to and difficult to put out of mind.

Talk to your loved one’s doctor
Participate during doctor’s appointments. It’s perfectly fine to ask questions. Your loved one’s doctor would rather you ask many questions than not know how to care for your loved one’s heart disease issues. The more familiar you become, the more help you can be in your loved one’s life.

CFCVI is a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care and strives to make heart disease prevention a priority. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist, get a referral or ask general health care questions, please call our free, 24-hour Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-800-447-8206.

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• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Kidney problems
• Stroke

According to Medline Plus, 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure. If you do have high blood pressure, don’t despair. With your doctor’s guidance and adopting the right lifestyle changes, you can lower your blood pressure. Try these five ways to lower blood pressure.

1. Lower your salt intake
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, lowering sodium intake can reduce your blood pressure and can help your blood pressure medication work better. When reducing your salt intake, it’s important to learn to read food labels. You should avoid putting extra salt on your foods, but you should also watch out for hidden sources of sodium such within sauces, packaged foods and flavor packets.

2. Watch your weight
Obesity can lead to high blood pressure. Work with your doctor to reach and maintain a healthy weight for your frame. Losing weight can help lower your blood pressure, along with lowering your risk of many other diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Set a reasonable goal when trying to lose weight. Celebrate every small victory to stay encouraged as you work toward your healthy goal weight.

3. Quit smoking and drinking
Alcohol and smoking can increase your blood pressure and make it much more difficult to lower it. Quit smoking today and limit your alcohol intake significantly. A few social drinks once in a while are fine, but if you drink regularly you’re putting yourself at risk for serious health complications.

4. Get moving today
Start a mild exercise routine and work up to regular activity. Even if you begin with slow, short walks, you can help lower your blood pressure. Ask your healthcare provider if you should avoid any activities. Consider joining a gym for camaraderie and support through group fitness classes.

5. Ask your doctor about blood pressure medication
If you’re unable to lower your blood pressure through lifestyle and diet changes alone, you may be a candidate for blood pressure medication. Ask your doctor what kind of medicine is right for you. If you’re on blood pressure medication, remember to take it as directed. Avoid skipping doses. Try setting a timer on your phone to remind you to take it regularly.

Would you like to like to discuss your blood pressure condition and treatment plan with a cardiac specialist at CFCVI? Call our Consult-A-Nurse referral line today at 1-800-447-8206.

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Hands-Free CPR: Saving a Life With Some Help from the Bee Gees
If you witness a person suffering from a sudden heart attack, and that person does not have a pulse, you should do two things:

1) Call 911 immediately or have someone call it for you.

2) Perform hands-only CPR. To do this, place your hands one, on top of the other, in the middle of the chest and push repeatedly. How fast? The American Heart Association suggests that you pump your hands to the exact pace of the Bee Gees song, "Stayin' Alive." For a clear and very funny demonstration, watch Ken Jeong explain hands-free CPR with a little help from the Bee Gees in this great video:

1. Preparation. Two weeks prior to surgery, your doctor may ask you to stop taking medications that keep your blood from clotting. This makes bleeding less of a problem during surgery. Likewise, your physician may suggest that you quit smoking and prepare your home for your recovery period.
2. Getting clean. Make sure to shower the day prior to your surgery. You may even be provided a special soap to clean your neck, chest and abdomen.
3. No food or liquid. As with any major surgery, you will be asked not to have any form of food or liquid after midnight the day before your surgery.
4. Post-surgery. Plan on spending 3-7 days in the hospital after surgery with the first night or two in the intensive care unit. Expect to wake up to several tube drains including a catheter. These will be removed 1-3 days post-surgery. You will also have multiple monitors and an IV as well. Pain medications will provide you comfort and relief.
5. Recovery support. Don’t expect to feel like yourself right away. It can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to start to feel better. Then it is important to take it easy. Rehabilitation will likely be part of the plan and your therapists will guide you on what you should (and should not) be doing.

At CFCVI, we take care of hearts – and we do it with innovation and experience. Visit us online to learn more about our services. For answers to your health questions or for a physician referral, call our Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-800-447-8206.

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Know the Symptoms
According to the American Heart Association, a STEMI is not the most common kind of heart attack, but it is the most likely to lead to long-term injury or death. Symptoms of STEMI are the same as those for other types of heart attack, and include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Clammy or cool skin
• Abnormal heart beat

Don’t wait – if you think that you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Treatment
A STEMI is treated with percutaneous cardiac intervention (PCI), a specific technique developed for this type of heart attack. A balloon angioplasty is the most common PCI, and can only be done in a cardiac catheterization lab. To start, a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the groin and threaded to the heart. The catheter is placed next to the clot, and the balloon is inflated. This dislodges the clot and any adjacent blockage in the artery. Typically, a stent is placed in the artery after surgery. This action keeps the artery open as it heals.

Recovery
It is possible to make a complete recovery after suffering from a STEMI, but only if it is diagnosed and treated quickly. However, recovery is a gradual process. Once a STEMI occurs, a cardiologist will recommend cardiac rehabilitation. Patients will work with a physical therapist to increase their level of physical activity, and learn about heart health to prevent future problems.  

At the Central Florida Cardiac and Vascular Institute, our experts specialize in diagnosing and treating STEMIs. For answers to your health questions, call our Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-800-447-8206. You can also get a doctors referral or register for classes and events.

What is STEMI?
STEMI or ST elevated myocardial infarction, is a more serious type of heart attack that occurs and accounts for approximately 35-40% of all heart attacks. STEMIs are indicative of a decrease or stoppage of blood flow to the heart and your best course of action is to receive treatment as soon as possible.

How is STEMI Treated?
The best course of treatment for a STEMI should occur within an 120 minutes of diagnosis. This includes opening up the blocked artery. Aspirin can be a first line of treatment in responding to a STEMI heart attack, but administering other clot busting medications should be considered immediately. 

If clot busting medications are not successful, patients should be considered for a angioplasty to open the blocked area. At CFCVI, we pride ourselves on meeting and beating the recommended average treatment time and are proud to provide patients with the latest technology available to treat STEMI. Visit us online to learn more about our STEMI Radial procedure. 

For more health information or to get a physician referral, call our Consult-A-Nurse service 1-888-447-8206. Check out our schedule of Classes and Events to see if there is a program that peaks your interest. 

1. Getting hopping. For adults, the CDC recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic activity. This doesn't mean you have to adopt an trained athlete's fitness intensive lifestyle. Try brisk walking, jogging, biking, dancing or something else that gets your heart pumping. Everyday activities such as mowing your lawn or playing soccer with your kids count! The main idea is to get moving and keep moving. And by no means do you have to keep it within 150 minutes. For greater health benefits, shoot for 300 minutes a week of aerobic activity. If you feel good and want to move more, go for it! Your heart will thank you for it.

2. Lift something heavy. The CDC also recommends that adults (at the minimum) engage in muscle strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week. This includes doing things that work all major muscle groups of your body (e.g., legs, arms, back, chest, core, hips, and shoulders). Does this have to be in a gym? No. You can use resistance bands, or lift and move heavy things, like you might do while gardening or landscaping. You can also do body weight exercises, such as squats or push-ups (which can be modified for every level). 

3. Cut down on sodium. Most Americans get almost double the recommended amount of salt on a daily basis. This can wreck havoc on your heart health. Shoot for the recommended amount to start. On a daily basis, adults shouldn't have more than 6 grams (or 1 teaspoon) of salt or sodium. Look for foods that say "no salt added" or low sodium. Rinse canned goods to eliminate extra salt. Use other spices and seasonings to add flavor or enhance foods natural flavors. To aim higher, try to go even lower (less than 1,500 mg of salt a day). 

4. Eat like a rabbit. No, this doesn't mean nibble on carrots and lettuce. Try to focus on plant-based nutrition. Buy foods that are harvested rather than processed. Load up on vegetables and fruit. Shoot for at least half of your grains to be whole grains. Introduce soy into your diet. Soy products can include milk, tofu, edamame (soy beans) and even smoothies. Soy has the excellent benefit of reducing cholesterol (especially the bad kind, LDL) while raising the good cholesterol, HDL. 

5. Replace bad fats with good fats. Some fats are actually heart smart. Take an inventory of your fat sources and try swapping them out with better choices. Research has shown that plant based fats are better for your heart and actually increase heart health. So goodbye to sources of trans-fat and saturated fat and start using olive oil, canola oil and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., salmon, tuna or walnuts). Avoid animal fats (butter, dairy, meats) and look for "trans-fat free" on products that you buy. 

These five simple steps will get you to a heart smart spring — just a quick hop, skip and a jump away. 

For more information on being heart smart or to check out our schedule of classes and events, visit CFCVI. You can listen to our latest podcasts and catch up on our blogs for some additional heart health tips. 

For H2U members, get a free cardiac risk profile to gain insight on your heart health. Do you have a health question or need a physician referral? Call CFCVI's Consult-A-Nurse at 1-800-447-8206.

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Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, therefore alcohol when combined with other activities, like driving, is extremely dangerous. However, when it come to your heart, there is less information available and more debate that is ongoing. Your might be asking yourself right now, "Is it true that it can be 'good' for your heart?"

Here is what we know for sure when it comes to alcohol and the heart:

• Heavy drinking (3 or more drinks a day) increases your risk for sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can weaken your heart muscle.
• Heavy drinking can raise your blood pressure

Here are a few of the reported benefits to your heart from light to moderate alcohol consumption. First, let's determine what we mean by "light to moderate." For adult women, this translates into one alcoholic beverage per day and two for men. Benefits may include:

• Protection against congestive heart failure
• Decreased risk of heart attack
• Reduced risk of stroke

In general, there is no agreement on whether there is a form of alcohol that is better than another (i.e., wine versus liquor). Likewise, the medical community has not reached a consensus on the benefits of light alcohol consumption. Red wine is a popular discussion point, as it is thought to have heart healthy benefits due to certain ingredients that may decrease blood clotting and increase blood flow. 

The most important thing to remember is moderation. If you aren't a drinker, there is not enough evidence to give you any reason to start. 

Visit CFCVI for more information on heart health or to register for any of our classes. For answers to your health questions or a physician referral, call our Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-800-447-8206. 

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Here are some easy steps to get your plate into heart-healthy shape, too. In order to stay focused, follow these quick diet fixes and don't overwhelm yourself with a major overhaul:

1. Smart substitutions. Swapping certain ingredients for others can make your diet more heart-friendly. For example, making the switch to fat-free milk is easy. Or if a recipe calls for whole fat milk, simply replace it with 1 cup of fat free milk and a tablespoon of vegetable oil.
2. Forget the frying. Foods taste better when you can savor the true flavor. Try cooking using any of the following methods instead of frying: baking, stir-frying, roasting, grilling, steaming or sautéing. Some of the methods still use oil, however just a tablespoon or so is all you need.
3. Make your snacks count. Snacking isn’t bad. Just try to eat smaller meals and use your snacks to keep your energy (and metabolism) going strong. Research shows that people who eat three balanced, reasonable meals a day plus two snacks maintain healthier weight.  Go for what is satisfying, but stick to healthy options (e.g., low-fat granola on yogurt, unsalted nuts, a frozen banana, a cup of hot tomato soup, or a cold juice spritzer).
4. So long salt. Salt has definitely got a bad rap when it comes to heart health because of its affect on blood pressure. Salt in moderation is fine (limit it to 1500 mg or less per day), however most people wonder, “what will I use to season my food?” Have you checked the spice aisle lately? There is an unlimited number of spices and seasonings to explore and experiment with when cooking. Basil, coriander, or fragrant rosemary are all great spices to start with in various dishes.

For more information on how we can care for your heart, visit CFCVI to learn about our services. For more health information or for a physician referral, contact our Consult-A-Nurse service 24/7 at 1-800-447-8206. Nurses are available to assist you with all of your healthcare needs. 

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Heart attack symptoms can be slightly different for everyone and there are some people who may not have symptoms at all. Both men and women are at risk for heart attack. In the past, it was a common misperception that more men suffered from heart attacks than women, however women account for almost half of all heart attack deaths.

In addition to chest discomfort or pain (although, keep in mind it doesn’t have to be severe pain), here are some other symptoms that might be unexpected:

• Discomfort in other areas of the body. This might include your back, arms, jaw, neck, or stomach. You might feel pressure, squeezing sensations, or fullness. Discomfort might last for more than a few minutes or go away and come back.
• Shortness of breath. This can happen with or without chest discomfort.
• Breaking out in a cold sweat.
• Nausea.
• Light-headedness.

Fast action is the best step for surviving a heart attack. Call 9-1-1 as soon as possible. Treatment within an hour is the best response for a heart attack.

Visit CFCVI online for more information on our services. Have a health question? Need a physician referral? Please call our Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-800-447-8206.

Sources:
Women and Heart Attacks (NHLBI)
About Heart Attacks (NHLBI) 

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