Tag: heart health

image and a heart-shaped lapel pin and an EKG readout

Listen to Your Heartbeat: Empowering Women with Knowledge

Did you know heart disease is the #1 killer of women, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined? High blood pressure accounts for one in five deaths among women in the U.S. and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. While these statistics might surprise you, February as American Heart Health month serves as a crucial reminder: taking charge of your heart health is essential.  

Women of all ages should be aware of heart health risks, especially women with diabetes or obesity and those who smoke. High blood pressure occurs in one in 12 pregnancies in women 20-44 years old, putting both mother and baby at risk. Women in menopause and perimenopause, which can start as early as 35 years old, can start to experience lipid profile changes (high triglycerides and low HDL), accumulating visceral and paracardial fat, and high blood pressure. All of which puts them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome for up to 40% of their lives.  

It’s important to know that while women also experience chest pain as a heart attack symptom, it may not be constant or as severe as in men. Women often describe their symptoms as pressure or tightness and they are more likely to report symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as:  

  • Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper abdomen discomfort 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Pain in one or both arms 
  • Nausea or vomiting 
  • Sweating 
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness 
  • Unusual fatigue 
  • Heartburn 

Given these symptoms and the range of potential causes, it’s extremely important for women to be strong advocates for proper testing and treatment when seeking medical care. Women are less likely than men to be treated with aspirin and statins, to have coronary bypass surgery, or to be referred for cardiac rehabilitation, all of which show benefits in both men and women. Don’t be afraid to be your own advocate. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  

  • Gather information: Learn about your family history, risk factors and symptoms. 
  • Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about any concerns you have, no matter how small they seem.  
  • Seek second opinions: If you feel unheard or unsatisfied with your diagnosis or treatment plan, consider seeking another doctor’s perspective. 

Knowledge is power! By understanding your risks and taking proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Empower yourself and the women in your life with the curated blogs and resources offered below to create a plan for a healthier heart and a healthier you.  

 

Resources 

Knowledge is Power: Wearable Heart Health Monitoring 

Healthy Hearts Power Fit Cities 

Blood Pressure Infographic 

ACSM Heart Health | Trending Topic 

Women and Heart Disease | ACSM Handout 

U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension 

Live to the Beat” Campaign Toolkit (focused on reducing risk in Black adults) | Million Hearts (CDC & CMS initiative) 

High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy | CDC 

Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association 

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women | American Heart Association 

woman wearing headphones, walking and checking an activity tracker on her wrist

Knowledge is Power: Wearable Heart Health Monitoring

February is heart month, and wearable devices are becoming a larger part of heart health promotion and cardiovascular care. Wearable devices incorporated into clothing or an accessory allow for real-time data collection and monitoring. Data monitoring allows physicians to practice medicine in a post-COVID-19 world where remote, decentralized and personalized patient care are becoming commonplace. As Navy researcher Rachel Markwald said, “you can’t manage what you’re not monitoring.” It is important to monitor sleep, activity, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. if someone wants to make a change to benefit performance or health.

Functions of Wearables:

As technology evolves, the capability and accuracy of smart devices advances. Output from wearable technology is becoming integrated into daily life. The global Wearable Medical Devices Market was valued at $14.6 billion USD in 2019. The compound market growth rate of wearable devices is expected to grow by 24.8% per year. Having 24/7 available data are helping the sports and fitness industries push the boundaries of human performance.

Wearable devices currently on the market perform the following functions:

  • Activity tracking – duration, pace, type
  • Calorie burning
  • Sleep tracking
  • Measure heart rate (HR) – resting HR and HR variability
  • Measure blood pressure
  • Electrocardiogram looking at heart rhythm
  • Pulse oximeter
  • Body temperature
  • BMI
  • Body posture
  • Fall detection

Wearables allow for direct access to strategies for:

  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Cognitive strength

Challenges of wearables for monitoring heart health in the medical setting:

  • Data accuracy – Inaccurate data is more harmful than no data.
  • Behavioral change – Can wearables actually guide behavior change?
  • Cost – Those who may benefit the most from wearable technology and continuous data monitoring may not be able to afford the devices.
  • Data security – Health-related data may not be able to be securely shared with physicians.

What is the best wearable for you (or your patients)?

You should consider your health and fitness goals, your ability to sift through large amounts of data, the data you believe are most beneficial to you, and the ease of use of the device. As technology continues to advance, the accuracy and capabilities of wearable devices will continue to improve. Overall, wearable devices are good at tracking physical activity parameters, but the technology for monitoring some cardiovascular vital signs, such as blood pressure, is still in its infancy.

A list of wearable devices, their biological measurements, and description of research studies and FDA approval status can be found here.

Authors: Allison N. Schroeder, MD and Chad A. Asplund, MD, MPH, FACSM

heart and EKG on orange background

Healthy Hearts Power Fit Cities

February is American Heart Month, and there is no better time to appreciate the benefits of cardiovascular fitness and a strong heart! Heart disease is the leading chronic disease cause of mortality in the U.S., accounting for one in every four deaths1. Cardiovascular fitness plays an important role in reducing not only deaths from heart disease, but also the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and stroke2.

In thinking about cardiovascular fitness, I found a striking similarity with my recent experience of completing several home improvement projects. Within a few short months, my house required a new water heater, AC system and significant updates to insulation. Although these systems typically go unnoticed when functioning well, they are important to my daily living and quality of life. My focus can be on the joys of work and play within the walls of a comfortable, adaptable and efficient home.

Cardiovascular fitness is your heart and vasculature’s ability to deliver oxygen throughout the body to the working muscles. We can’t see it, and, like a water heater or AC system, we can take it for granted, but it affects how well we work and play. It can take some effort to improve or maintain your cardiovascular system, but it is absolutely worth it! If our heart is efficient and strong, our health and quality of life benefits. At a daily level, cardiovascular fitness can improve our productivity and focus at work, give us more energy to play a round of tag with our grandchildren or propel us to walk the extra half mile to reach the city pier.

top 10: % or residents meeting aerobic activity guidelines 2020The best way to improve and maintain cardiovascular fitness is through physical activity that elevates your heart rate to at least moderate intensity levels. Only 50% of U.S. adults report meeting the recommended amounts of 150 minutes per week. Madison, WI is the leading city in the 2020 American Fitness Index rankings with an estimated 65%, and Laredo, TX is ranked lowest with only 34% of people reporting the recommended levels of activity. Use this handy infographic to learn how to monitor your exercise intensity.

The ultimate choice to be physically active is with each individual. However, the community’s environmental resources and policies will help or hinder these individual levels of physical activity and ultimately, cardiovascular fitness. Providing access to recreational facilities and parks for all residents allows for enhanced opportunities to be physically active. According to data collected for the Fitness Index, 100% of Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA residents are within a 10-minute walk to a park. The Fitness Index also tracts specific recreational facilities ranging from park playgrounds (Madison leading with 6.9 per 10,000 residents) to public swimming pools (lead by Cleveland, OH with 11 per 100,000 residents). Larger scale Complete Street policies that provide safe and aesthetically pleasing infrastructures for active walking and cycling can be important ways to increase aerobic activity and improve fitness. Cities across the country are beginning to adopt and implement strong Complete Streets policies, such as New Orleans, LA, Seattle, WA, St. Louis, MO, and Buffalo, NY.

I ultimately made the decision to make home improvements, however, I received support from local and state government resources and incentives programs along the way that made my decision easier. Promoting good cardiovascular fitness of each community member should be considered an individual and community priority just like keeping our homes in shape. Under the surface of a fit city, lies the heart of every resident to drive its vibrancy.

 

To learn more about heart health and physical activity, explore ACSM’s heart health resources.

 

Author: Amanda Paluch, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst

Citations

  1. Virani SS, Alonso A, Benjamin EJ, Bittencourt MS, Callaway CW, Carson AP, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2020 update: a report from the American Heart Associationexternal icon. Circulation. 2020;141(9):e139–e596.

2. Ozemek C, Laddu DR, Lavie CJ, Claeys H, Kaminsky LA, Ross R, Wisloff U, Arena R, Blair SN. An Update on the Role of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Structured Exercise and Lifestyle Physical Activity in Preventing Cardiovascular Disease and Health Risk. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2018 Nov-Dec;61(5-6):484-490. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2018.11.005. Epub 2018 Nov 13. PMID: 30445160.