As you’re reading this, your heart is busy pumping vital blood all over your body through a vast and complex network of veins, arteries, and capillaries. How long would this system be if laid end to end? An unbelievable 60,000 miles, twice the circumference of the earth.

By this time tomorrow, the heart beating in your chest will have pumped upwards of 2,000 gallons of blood. The point? Your heart holds the singular distinction of being a marvelous, powerful, and many-faceted organ.

Since February marks heart health month, let’s delve into three crucial aspects to safeguard your remarkable, resilient organ.

As a long-time physician, I first want to establish that heart health isn’t just a medical concern; it’s a shared journey. That means that as a trusted healthcare partner, I focus on telling the truth.

Truth in this case includes the fact that heart disease is the number one cause of death in America. But this story ends on a positive note, so please read on.

Take care. The first – and perhaps most simple – thing that you need to know about your heart is that you have to take care of it. It just beats away mostly unnoticed in your chest, but it’s usually one of the first things we medical providers check. Why? Simply put, if it stops, you stop.

So heart health is critically important to us. And you should think about sharing in that.

Here’s a hard fact about life in our region: the levels of cardiovascular (heart) disease in Crawford County and the region trend higher than both the state and national averages. Given that fact, the second thing you can consider about your heart is that this statistic might include you. But you have the ability to stay ahead of the curve!

Slow and stealthy. Related to the second need-to-know item is that heart disease is often slow and stealthy as it advances. Without learning more about heart health and getting regular checkups, many people often express surprise when heart-related symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, or pain – or worse – appear.

Dr. Peter Attia, author of the currently popular Outlive book, tells a sobering story about this. When he was in medical school, his pathology professor asked what was then the most common symptom of advanced heart disease? The unsettling answer? Sudden death.

Of course, the good news here is that advancements in treatment and intervention have significantly lowered that number. But the plain truth is that sudden fatal outcome from a heart attack still represents about a third of all cases.

You can lower your risks. This leads to the third thing you need to know about your heart: heart disease is preventable in many cases. Sometimes your genes may deal you a life situation (did your parents or siblings ever have a heart attack or stroke?), but you can still do something about it. The key point here is that you can make changes and potentially improve heart health at any age or time, but it’s really important to start early.

The main takeaway? Now is the time to do something for you and your heart. It’s always good to get advice from your provider. There also exist good online resources, including suggestions from SICHC’s own Donna Charles, LPN, CHW. Check out her short video at https://bit.ly/FollowMyHeart-CHC

 The time to act is now – take charge of your heart health and reduce risks today!

A board-certified family physician, Dr. Curtis Thill has practiced medicine in the Crawford County region for more than 30 years.

The post Three Critical Things about You and Your Heart appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

It’s not a pleasant fact, but one worth considering, especially since you can take steps to reduce the risk of having it happen to you. What is it? By the time you finish reading this short column, an average of six-to-ten people will have had a stroke. During that same time, at least one person (on average) will die of complications from a stroke.

Still reading?  That’s good, because there are important facts that can help reduce risk of stroke, or help you survive if you experience one.

A common fallacy is that strokes only occur among “old” people, particularly those over the age of 65. The facts? A few years ago almost 40% of Americans who were admitted to a hospital after experiencing a stroke were less than 65 years of age.

So, what are we talking about when it comes to “strokes”?

Two general types of strokes

There are two basic types of a stroke, which is a condition that causes areas of brain cell damage (or cell death). Most strokes (loss of blood flow) are caused by blood flow being blocked in an area of the brain. These are called ischemic strokes and account for about 87% of all strokes.

Other strokes can occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, but these are relatively rare. When this type of stroke occurs, it is called a hemorrhagic stroke.

Let’s talk about what you can do. Strokes often occur without warning, so it is important to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. When a stroke occurs, every minute counts! Treatment in an emergency room can reduce brain damage and even save a life (including your own). Typical symptoms of a stroke in progress can include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you or someone you’re with suddenly experiences these symptoms, don’t wait – call 9-1-1 for help immediately! Available stroke treatments are generally most effective when a stroke victim gets help within three hours of the onset of symptoms.

Use the F.A.S.T test

Here’s a standard approach – called the F.A.S.T test – that also may help you:

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act “F.A.S.T.” and do the following:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.

But what about prevention?

Some stroke risks are specific to gender and race. Hereditary issues can also come into play.

But there are things you can do to positively reduce the risk that you will have a stroke. Here a trusted medical partner whom you can work with can play an important role. Risks of a stroke increase significantly when someone has untreated high blood pressure, is significantly overweight, smokes cigarettes, has untreated high cholesterol, or has diabetes.

Many people living in our area of southern Indiana face these issues. As a long-time physician, I know how hard it can be to deal with these conditions. But with the help of a trusted medical professional, you can walk together to address these tough issues in a way that works for you. Find one today, begin a new journey, and reduce your risk of stroke!

A board-certified family physician, Curtis Thill has been practicing in the Crawford County region for more than 30 years.

The post You Can Reduce Your Risk of Stroke Today appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.