HQ_Sept_2013

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HQPiedmont Healthcare Quarterly

A Kings Mountain Herald, Banner News, Cherryville Eagle publication

September 2013

Does Exercise Make a Difference? ...4

Fat Is Not Your Enemy ...................6

Worker Health............................12

Heart Health & Women ...............15

2 HQ - Heart Health September 18, 2013

By Alan Hodge

They say that only love can mend abroken heart, but a bit of that and theproper cardiac rehabilitation programcan make a diseased one feel a whole lotbetter – and let the patients get back towhat they enjoy doing as soon as possi-ble.

Such is the case with Liz Hyde of Gas-ton County and Mike Collins of Belmontwho, after heart surgery, were madeaware of CaroMont’s Cardiac Rehab pro-gram and one of its offshoots, theMended Hearts group of heart diseasesurvivors.

Mended Hearts is a national, com-munity-based heart patient supportgroup founded in 1951. The local groupis Mended Hearts of Gastonia, Chapter379. It received its charter in 2011.

For Hyde, her heart disease sagacame as a surprise. “I ended up in thehospital the day after I turned 50,” saidHyde. “No heart attack, but episodes ofhigh blood pressure spikes. No time tothink about what to do; I was told a dou-ble bypass was in order. Great doctors,caring nurses and supportive family andfriends helped me get through the nextfew weeks.”

After the operation, Hyde began herrehabilitation.

“Then it was time to start 12 weeks ofCardiac Rehab,” she said. “I was actuallynervous and scared, because I wasn’tmuch of an ‘exerciser’. The first day, Icould barely walk to the work out room.I was still lumbering slowly along withmy back hunched over like an 80 yearold. How could I possibly get on a tread-mill?” Hyde says the Cardiac Rehab folksgave her a lot of support in her come-back.

“With the encouragement of the fan-tastic rehab nurses and staff, every day Iwent, I got noticeably better and better,”she said. “The nurses answered all myquestions about my recovery aches andpains, and the seminars helped me dealwith stress management, learning to eata new way, and the importance of exer-cising at home.”

Hyde’s rehab wasn’t an overnightthing, but she stuck with the program.“After a month, it all got easier, and sodid my activities at home,” she said.“Rehab was really making a differencein my recovery process, and soon, I waschallenging myself to do even more. And

before I knew it, I was able to resume mynormal life again, something I’d beenafraid I’d never do after such a big, life-changing operation.”

Hyde also had another inspiration tostick with Cardiac Rehab. “When I began rehab, the nurses askedme what my goals were for this pro-gram,” she said. “I knew right away. Iwanted to return to touring with theshow “Menopause the Musical”, a showI had been acting/singing/dancing in allover the country for the last 9 years. Iwanted to be able to assure my produc-ers that I was capable of performingagain in this fast paced comedy; I knewthey could easily replace me. My doc-tors had told me that I would be ready toreturn to the road by the fall; that washard to believe back then, but it mademe work hard on the machines in rehaband do what the doctors and nurses toldme was necessary.

Hyde’s determination and the CardiacRehab program let her achieve a victoryover heart disease. “Well, I am now inmy last two weeks of rehab and boy, itwent fast,” she said. “I am proud andhappy to say that my hard work has paidoff, my producers noticed, and they haveoffered me another tour of “Menopausethe Musical” starting in October! I can’twait to get back on stage and make peo-ple smile. And to top it off, the nurses in

rehab are planning a road trip to see mein the show! How is that for support?”

The next goal for Hyde is to join theMended Hearts.

“When I am back home in GastonCounty, I plan to join Mended Hearts, agroup of heart surgery survivors who visitwith current heart patients to encouragethem that there is life beyond the hospi-tal bed,” she said. “They certainly en-couraged me when I was in that position,so I want to give back. I might even singto the patients! Whatever it takes to helppeople realize they have a lot to look for-ward to. And Cardiac Rehab is a big stepin getting well. Thank heavens we have

such a wonderful program right here inour area, filled with supportive and car-ing staff. They have taught me how to liveagain! Mike Collins is already on theMended Hearts membership rolls and isdoing great following his heart attackevent.

“I had a heart attack on June 17, 2010before I was getting ready to run,” Collinssaid. “I had to have two stents put in.”

Then Collins began his own rehab.“My recovery was with Re-Hab at the

Summit. It was a great experience andgot me on the right track to a healthierlife style. The rehabilitation departmentat CaroMont Health is good. Everyonethere has a positive attitude and is inspi-rational to everyone that attends.”

These days, Collins is doing muchbetter.

“I go to the YMCA 5 to 6 days a weekand am able to do level 3 cardio,” hesaid. “Spin Class is my favorite.”

He’s been with Mended Hearts forabout a year.

“Dick and Sandra Cromlish here inBelmont introduced me to MendedHearts, and Jake Gray is the chapter pres-ident,” he said. “I enjoy visiting patientsand encouraging them that they can be-come much better and lead normallives.”

Overall, a combination of profes-sional care and folks reaching out to oth-ers who have been down the heartdisease pathway is a win-win for all in-volved.

For more information, contactMended Hearts c/o CaroMont RegionalHealth Center, 2525 Court Drive, Gasto-nia.

Mending hearts through rehab

Liz Hyde and Mike Collins are both heart disease survivors who went through ex-tensive rehab. Collins is a member of Mended Hearts and Hyde plans to join the car-diac patient support group.

Puffy or swollen legs or feet?If you notice that your feet swell enough to make your shoes tight; your an-

kles, wrists, or fingers are noticeably puffy; or there are deep pressure marks orindents when you take off socks or hose, you may have a problem with fluid re-tention. Also called edema, fluid retention can be a sign of coronary artery dis-ease (CAD), heart failure, and other forms of cardiovascular disease.

Scary stat: More than 80 million people have one or more forms of cardiovas-cular disease, and approximately 900,000 people die from it each year.

Why it happens: Fluid retention occurs when the heart doesn't pump stronglyenough and blood doesn't carry waste products away from tissues. Edema usu-ally starts in the feet, ankles, fingers, hands, and legs because they're furthestfrom the heart, where circulation is poorer.

What to do: Report problems with edema to your doctor, who can run teststhat may indicate CAD and can determine if your heart function is normal.

September 18, 2013 HQ - Heart Health 3


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Mike Tamberella MD, Cardiologist, CaroMont Heart

The consequences of physical inac-tivity are staggering. Compared with1950, Americans work longer hours atless physically active jobs which meansa significant decrease in calories burnedthroughout the day. The result is that 65percent of all adults are now obese oroverweight.

The American Heart Association cur-rently recommends 30 minutes of mod-erate activity at least five days a week.That may sound like a lot, but this isachievable! This can be divided intothree, 10-minute periods of activity,which is almost as beneficial to youroverall fitness as one 30-minute session.The effects of regular activity are amaz-ing. Physical activity boosts mental well-ness, and can help relieve tension,anxiety, depression and anger. Exerciseincreases the flow of oxygen, and canimprove your mental acuity and mem-ory. Additionally, it also enhances yourimmune system and decreases the riskof having a heart attack or stroke. Be-coming more active can lower yourblood pressure, improve your choles-

terol, help you sleep better, and improveyour self-image.

Whether at home, at work or at playthere are several things we can do to in-crease the calories we burn throughoutthe day. Try these tips:

• Work in the garden or mow the grass.Using a riding mower doesn’t count!

• Rake leaves or pick up trash.

• Walk or bike to the corner store in-stead of driving.

• When walking, pick up the pace fromleisurely to brisk. Choose a hilly route.

• Park farther away at the shopping malland walk the extra distance.

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.Or, get off a few floors early and take thestairs the rest of the way.

• Walk while waiting for the plane at theairport.

• Stay at hotels with fitness centers orswimming pools and use them while onbusiness trips.

• Schedule exercise time on your busi-ness calendar and treat it as any otherimportant appointment.

• Get off the bus a few blocks early andwalk the rest of the way to work orhome.

• Walk around your building for a breakduring the workday or during lunch.

• When golfing, walk instead of using acart.

The hardest part is getting started.Anytime we try to make changes to ourdaily routine we should do so slowlywith the idea that this is truly a lifelongchange and not just a fad.

Here are some tips for long-term suc-cess:

• Gradually build up to at least 30 min-utes of activity on most or all days of theweek.

• Dress for success. Wear comfortableclothes.

• Exercise at the same time of day so itbecomes a regular part of your lifestyle.

• Find a convenient time and place todo activities. Try to make it a habit, butbe flexible. If you miss an exercise op-portunity, work activity into your day an-other way.

• Don’t exercise right after meals orwhen it’s very hot or humid.

• Choose activities that are fun, not ex-hausting. Add variety. Develop a reper-

toire of several activities that you canenjoy. That way, exercise will neverseem boring or routine.

• Ask family and friends to join you;you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

• Join an exercise group, health club orthe YMCA. Many churches and seniorcenters offer exercise programs too.

• Use music to keep you entertained.

Something is always better than noth-ing! And, everyone has to start some-where. Even if you’ve been sedentary foryears, today is the day you can begin tomake healthy changes in your life. If youdon’t think you’ll make it for 30 minutes,set a reachable goal for today. Don’t letall-or-nothing thinking rob you of doingwhat you can every day. Once you havestarted regular activities, track and cele-brate your success! Note your activitiesin a logbook writing down a descriptionof the activity including the distancetraveled or repetitions performed. Youwill be surprised at how recording youractivities will motivate future activities.Reward yourself at special milestones.

If you’ve been sedentary for a longtime, are overweight, have a high risk ofcoronary heart disease or some otherchronic health problem, see your doctorfor a medical evaluation before begin-ning a physical activity program.

Does exercise really make a difference? YES!

Shelby Dental Care Center Dr. Pauline Cahill, Dr. Brenton Young, Dr. Jessica Lackey

Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health —or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? The dental team atShelby Dental Care Center wants you to understand the intimate connection be-tween oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.

What’s the con-nection between oralhealth and overallhealth?

Like many areas ofthe body, your mouthis teeming with bac-teria — most of themharmless. Normallythe body’s natural de-fenses and good oralhealth care, such asdaily brushing and

The oral health connection

See ORALHEALTH, 18


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By Elizabeth Stewart

Jennifer Jones, a 28-year-old beauty queen fromKings Mountain, is doing her part to help beat cardio-vascular disease, the No. 1 killer of more women thanall forms of cancer combined.

As Ms. United States representing North Carolina,Jennifer is walking in the Greater Charlotte Heart WalkSeptember 21, a three-mile non-competitive, fund-rais-ing walk with a goal of $1.75 million for the AmericanHeart Association cardiovascular research, advocacyand education.

“I signed up to walk and my team members are 15beauty queens from the two Carolinas,” said the en-thusiastic young woman who travels the state andpushes “Back to Health: A Chiropractic Lifestyle.”

A 2003 graduate of Crest High School and a 2007Magna Cum Laude graduate of Limestone College atGaffney, SC, Jones will graduate in fall 2014 from Sher-man College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC. Sheplans to begin her practice in Cleveland County.

Jennifer is walking for her grandfather and all otherswho have battled heart disease. Her grandfather, J. C.Jones Jr., lost his fight with heart disease after multipleheart issues and two heart attacks.

She said the Greater Charlotte Heart Walk focuseson health and wellness programs for the workplace,

family and com-munity and beginsat 7:30 a.m. onSept. 21 with ahealth expo, kids’zone and heart andstroke recognition,and concludeswith the walk fromthe intersection ofTrade and Tryonstreets in uptownCharlotte.

The new addi-tions to the HeartWalk are designedto capture the en-thusiasm of thecrowd and providean opportunity toshow others how much fun exercising can be.

There are a number of awards for participants. “MySnazzy Sneakers” will be a contest for the young andyoung-at-heart to color, bejewel and decorate theirwalking shoes for the event. Walkers can take them pre-decorated or use the materials in the kids’ zone to cre-ate award-winning designs on the spot. Shoes will be

judged and prizes awarded prior to the beginning ofthe Heart Walk.

The second contest is for the “Happiest, Hippest andMost Hilarious Heart Walk Costume” worn by any ageparticipant, team or pet. Pictures will be taken andposted on the Heart Walk Facebook page. Walkers andfriends of the American Heart Association can vote on-line throughout the weekend. A winner will be selectedon the Monday following Heart Walk.

This is the first Greater Charlotte Heart Walk for Jen-nifer and 15 other beauty queens on the Ms. UnitedStates team. She said they are excited.

Over 12,000 participants are expected for this year’sQueen City Walk and local people can still enter thecornerstone event of the year-round “My Heart, MyLife” campaign as more than 150 corporate and com-munity teams partner with the American Heart Associ-ation on the campaign.

Jones said that cardiovascular defects are the mostcommon cause of infant death from birth defects and isthe No. 1 killer of Americans. In fact, she says, some-one dies from CVD every 30 seconds.

Daughter of Troy and Karan Jones of Kings Moun-tain, Jennifer stands 5 ft. 9 inches tall, weighs 125pounds and is a beautiful green-brown-eyed brunette.

Jennifer entered her first beauty pageant at age 19

Jennifer Jones, Ms. United States

See RAISING AWARENESS, 16

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Many so-called diet trends you findtoday in TV ads, magazines, and themedical community condemn the word“Fat!” People have become obsessedwith “No Fat” diets thinking this is thekey for weight loss and overall health.When you look at health from a cellu-lar perspective, you realize that “Fat”should be a part of your intake of nutri-ents daily. The problem is not “Fat,” butthe “Type of Fat” you consume on adaily basis.

Let’s explore what fat is, good andbad sources of fat, lipids and cell mem-branes, and fatty acids and oxygen.Once you begin to understand theproperties of “Fat” at the cellular level,you will come to the realization thatour cells need it to stay healthy!

What is fat exactly? All fats are made up of carbon, hy-

drogen, and oxygen. You find the sameelements in carbohydrates, albeit, theyhave different molecular structures. All

forms of fat are based on the ratio be-tween hydrogen and carbon.

The two major groups of fat are sat-urated and unsaturated fat (monounsat-urated and polyunsaturated). You willfind saturated fat mostly in animal pro-teins and dairy, and unsaturated fats pri-marily in vegetable oils. You have heardthat eating saturated fat is bad, and eat-ing polyunsaturated fat is good. This isfalse!

What you need to avoid is over-cooked polyunsaturated fats becausethey have been linked to cancer, heartdisease, and problems with the repro-ductive organs. You need saturated andpolyunsaturated fats, albeit, it’s thesource of these fats that matter.

So what are good and bad sources offat? Let’s begin with the bad: vegetableoils, processed oils and fats, and hydro-genated or partially hydrogenated oils.

Products such as margarine, buttersubstitutes, vegetable shortening, andsome vegetable oils are examples ofhydrogenated oils. The good sourcesare: nuts, seeds, sunflower oil, eveningprimrose oil, borage, flaxseed, coconut

oil, grape seed oil, virgin olive oils, av-ocados, and avocado oil. Just make sureyou buy virgin cold-pressed oils that arein a dark bottle, so that, it slows downthe oxidation process.

The cell membranes in your body areprimarily composed of lipids, calledphospholipids and cholesterol. Theselipids give structure and flexibility toyour cell membranes and controls whatcomes in and out of your cells. Thereare a few different types of phospho-lipids in the cells and they are impor-tant because they wrap around nervecells in the brain and nervous system,therefore, you need them for properbrain and nerve function. Cholesterol isanother important lipid because itkeeps the structure of the membranesintact. Cholesterol also helps with theproper functioning of the endocrine sys-tem, helping to keep hormones bal-anced in the body. Without goodsources of fat in your daily nutritionprogram, your cells become toxic, hy-poxic (lack of oxygen), and deficient infat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Thiscan also lead to neurological disordersand an overall reduction in cognitivefunction over time. Consuming bad fatsmentioned above in genetically modi-fied meats, junk food, fried food, andbaked goods can lead to the problemsjust mentioned.

In order for your body to have in-creased levels of oxygen, you need toconsume the right ratios of “EssentialFatty Acids” aka “Omega Fats 3, 6, and9.” Achieving peak oxygen levels in thebody and blood should be your maingoal to improve your health. The cellmembranes nourished with the right Es-

sential Fatty Acids, will help you toachieve this goal! Every cell membraneis half protein and half fat. A portion ofthe membrane’s fat is non-reactive sat-urated fats, which absorb little oxygen.The other portion is unsaturated orpolyunsaturated fats, which helps thecell absorb oxygen! This is where the“EFA’s” play a vital role to help oxy-genate the body because these fats actlike magnets that grab oxygen from thebloodstream and transfer it into thecells. Without eating good sources of fatdaily, nutrients and oxygen cannot beutilized as efficiently in the body, inturn, this may lead to cellular toxicityand overall malnourishment. These life-giving properties of fat and how it nour-ishes your body should encourage youto consume good sources of fat daily!

If you are looking for a balanced Es-sential Fatty Acid Supplement with theright ratios of Omega 3, 6, and 9, con-sider pharmaceutical grade products.Krill oil has the same phospholipidstructure as our cell membranes do,which means this fat is more bioavail-able and bioactive! It will also protectthe myelin sheath that surrounds thenerves in your brain, therefore, protect-ing it from free radical damage. Otherfish oils have a “triglyceride” cellularstructure, which means, they will notabsorb in the body as efficiently as Krilloil. Once these short and mediumchain fatty acids hit the small intestines,they are immediately absorbed andenter the bloodstream, helping to oxy-genate your cells. You may experiencebetter cognitive function, better hearthealth, less pain, or increased energywhen taking these supplements!

Fat is not your enemy


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By Michael E. Powell

Don and Willie Lavery know a littlesomething about heart health. They haveboth had heart surgery and are still verymuch active, with few reservations.

Not bad for two newly minted octo-genarians, would you say?

Willie’s storyWillie Lavery, who turned 80 Aug. 11,

sat in the couple’s sun room recentlyand was candid not only about her heartproblems but spoke openly of a 1995bout with colon cancer. By her own ad-mission, she has had many chemother-apy treatments, and is now, all theseyears later, cancer-free. She still goes toher doctor who keeps a close check onher, she said.

Willie had her heart attack before herhusband had his. The attack came, shenoted, after she was diagnosed with thecancer.

She is philosophical about it allthough, noting, “I finally figured out whyGod put me there (at the cancer spe-

cialist) in that situation. When I was inthe presence of other people (strickenwith cancer), they’d come in when theystarted to take chemo, they would havelost their hair and I didn’t, but I didn’tbrag about it. I just listened to them.”

About cancer, Willie acknowledges itwas a scary thing to hear she had it.

“A lot of people are concerned whenthey find out they have it and they getscared. Who doesn’t? The main thing isyour attitude, I think.”

She knows such is true with any phys-ical problem, such as heart disease or di-abetes, which she also has.

“You ask the question, ‘God, whyme?’ I just think that if you think you’redoomed, then you’re doomed. You haveto think differently!”

It is commonly known, she nowknows, that women’s heart attack symp-toms can be different from men’s. Williesaid while the actual attack didn’t hap-pen until after she was diagnosed withcancer, she now understands she hadmany of those symptoms as far back asthe early 90s.

Laverys don’t let heart problems slow them down

She said she was sitting in a chair onthe back porch (now their sun room,when she began experiencing pains sim-ilar to indigestion or gas, all in the areaof just below her sternum, or breast-bone.

“Apparently, it was my heart all thetime!”

At this point Don chimed in.“She was sweating a lot. Me and

(daughter) Donna (Lavery) took her tothe emergency room and that’s whenthey found out it was a heart attack,”Don said. “She wound up having twobypasses.”

Willie said she has worked all herlife, first as a mother and a housewife,then in insurance, then working at alocal rest home. She said she is not thetype of person to be stressed, preferringto “let life just flow!”

“I am an active person around thehouse.”

One thing Willie said most likely con-tributed to both hers and Don’s heartproblems was the fact they both smokedwhen they were younger. Don has quitand Willie said she still has one everynow and then, adding, “I know I need toquit altogether, but it’s hard to do!”

Don and Willie know that many dis-eases such as heart problems, cancer,and diabetes can run in families.

Her father, Lester Willis had diabetes,and her brother Robert Willis had a heartattack in the 80s, “flat-lined” but was

brought back by medical staff.

Don’s storyDon and Willie also know that eating

right is a big part in staying healthy, es-pecially as you get older. They both eatfoods that are good for them and havedone so all their lives.

“That’s how we were, we grew every-thing we ate,” he said.

His father was John Lavery, who diedfrom cancer when Don was five. Later,his mother remarried and his stepfatherwas John Craft.

“My mother and stepfather both hadheart problems, and my full brother diedwith cancer 20 years ago.”

Don said as far as his heart situationgoes, he’s “had a lot of problems.”

Looking back on it all, he noted hisdoctors and his family thought he washaving light strokes.

“I got to hurting pretty bad so theytook me to Gastonia to see a heart doc-tor there. The last time I was there theydid a heart catheterization on me.”

Don’s doctor told him then if therewas anything he could fix, he would.

“They found four blockages and toldme I needed to have surgery,” he said. “Ialso have chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD) and doctors don’t liketo put you to sleep to do surgery onyou.”

Nevertheless, Don said they did so

Don and Willie Lavery of Cherryville take a moment to check out new flowers thatjust came up in their outside arbor. Willie lovingly calls it their ‘haven’.

See LAVERYS, 18


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By Scott LairdCNC,MH Hallelujah Acres

Here’s one for your “hmmm, now isn’tthat interesting” file. Last year, re-searchers in Canada determined that“heart failure is associated with a 30 per-cent increase in major [bone] fractures.”*

Sumit Majumdar, MD, of the Univer-sity of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, andlead author of the study, said, “Our studydemonstrates for the first time that heartfailure and thinning of bones go hand inhand. Understanding the mechanism be-tween heart failure and osteoporosismight lead to new treatments for bothconditions.”

The study seems to indicate that heartdisease comes first, which becomes arisk factor for bone fractures – but whatif it’s the other way around? In otherwords, what if slow loss of bone masstriggers heart disease instead of heart dis-ease causing weak bones?

If that’s the case, there may be a sim-ple answer to avoiding both problems;here’s how.

The so-called “Standard AmericanDiet” that the average person eats –meat, dairy, refined sugar, and processedfoods – is acid-forming. This acid createsa problem for the human body, which isslightly alkaline (the opposite of acid onthe acid/alkaline pH scale). The problemarises because eating acid-forming foodmakes the body fight to maintain its al-kalinity; this fight creates cellular stressthat, left unchecked, can lead to cellularmalfunction, which manifests as disease.

In its fight to neutralize acid (and thedisease threat), the body must find some-thing alkaline within itself to “put out thefire.” The calcium in bones is the mostabundant source of alkalinity in thebody. So, when presented with continualacidity through improper diet, the bodyneutralizes the threat by robbing calciumfrom its own bones, making the bonesweaker. Worse yet, as the body movescalcium out of the bones and into thebloodstream, excess amounts can coatthe insides of arteries, causing athero-sclerosis, a form of heart disease.

Using this scenario, it’s not difficult to

see how an acid-forming diet can firstcause weak bones, followed by heartdisease.

Obviously, the solution begins withcorrecting the problem at the source –stop eating an acid-forming diet and starteating an alkaline-forming diet. Alkaline-forming foods like raw vegetables andfruits and most other plant-based foodsdo not make the body fight to maintainalkalinity because they are already alka-line (i.e. there is no need for the body toneutralize acid by robbing alkaline min-erals from the bones). In fact, alkaline-forming foods help keep calcium whereit belongs while providing the conditionsnecessary for the body to protect itselffrom disease. Plus, the alkaline diet (richin bone-strengthening calcium, by theway) will lower homocysteine levels,which further reduces the risk of heartdisease.

Speaking of changing your diet, mostpeople are aware that reducing fat is agood idea overall. Reducing fat intake isoften mentioned as a way to a healthheart; and a plant-based diet is certainlya good way to reduce unhealthy fats. Butbefore you start thinking of ways to elim-inate all fat, let’s dispel a myth or two –

especially when it comes to sourcesof fat from plant-based, whole foods!

Avocados, for example, are infamousfor their fat content, but they don’t de-serve the bad rap. They’re often referredto as the world’s most nutritious fruit (al-though they are not normally thought ofas a fruit) and are great for heart health.The monounsaturated fat in avocadoshelps lower bad cholesterol (LDL) andincreases the body’s ability to absorb an-tioxidants. In fact, adding just one cup offresh avocado to a salad of romaine let-tuce, spinach, and carrots, will increaseyour body’s absorption of certain antiox-idants in the salad between 200-400%!

Heart disease and bone lossCould one be the cause of the other?

See HEART DISEASE, 19


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By Dave Blanton

The nurse will see you now.For many Americans, this is a line that

is being heard more and more not insidea doctor’s office waiting room or aschoolhouse after a nasty scrape but atthe workplace.

Why? Employers have just in the last20 years begun to take an aggressive in-terest in their workers’ health because –so the thinking goes – a healthy and ac-tive workforce increases the bottom lineand saves millions of dollars in insurancecosts, long-term disability and sick days.

Over the summer, Thurman Geter,who has put in 25 years at the ParkdaleMill yarn plant in Kings Mountain, losteleven pounds by packing more fruitsand vegetables into his diet, walkingmore and drinking more water. The ideato take off some weight wasn’t exactlyhis own. It was instead directly encour-aged by HealthStat, a prospering Char-lotte-based company that manages thetextile company’s employee wellnessprogram at many of its facilities acrossNorth and South Carolina.

Participating in one’s company well-ness program is, of course, voluntary, butthrough incentives from employers therate of participation tends to be between50 and 90 percent. Often enough, work-ers’ healthcare premiums are reducedthrough their participation in a wellnessprogram.

As for Geter, he fell short of his goal tolose 20 pounds but says he probablywouldn’t have lost any if it weren’t forthe wellness program and the ready ad-vice and encouragement of the plant’son-site nurse practitioner Judy Jackson-Molina.

“Employees come in for checkups

every 12 months,” she said. “If we noticeone red flag, employees are encouragedto come back every six months.”

If there are two or more red flags (or a“panic” level in any one category), thenthe frequency of encouraged visits jumpsto once every three months.

Employees are screened for chronicdiseases, such as obesity and diabetesand heart disease. Nurse practitioners onsite also check blood sugar, blood pres-sure, body mass index, cholesterol andprostate specific antigen (PSA) in menover 40.

Wellness management programswork closely with employees’ physi-cians, but because of the proximity andaccess they provide, employees oftenhave a more robust connection to thehealth-care professionals on the job sitethan they do with their traditional health-care providers.

“When I first got out of (nurse practi-tioner) school, I heard of this concept,”said Molina, who got into the field ofmedicine after her own children wereout of school. “What I heard about whatI could do, the hairs on the back of myneck stood up.”

She joined up with HealthStat in 2001and says she loves the work because shecan see results: helping people to loseweight, stave off diabetes and aidingpeople in quitting smoking and other to-bacco products.

“They have easy access to us,” saidMolina, who divides her time betweenthe plant in Kings Mountain and otherHealthStat clients in the area. “I’m ableto build a strong bond with employeesand all of that is designed to point is onedirection: a healthier and more health-conscious person.”

Employees of Parkdale Mills textile

plant in Kings Mountain this summerparticipated in Weight Loss Challengethat pitted the Kings Mountain plantagainst two other company-ownedplants in Belmont and Gaffney, S.C. Thecompetition started in June when em-ployees pledged to walk 50,000 steps aweek with a pedometer, drink eightglasses of water, and eat three servingsof fruits and vegetables five days a week.The Monday weigh-ins began to resem-ble the energy of March Madness officebasketball pools that often grip work-places when the NCAA tournament rollsaround, Parkdale officials said.

HealthStat began in Hickory about 20years ago and all of its clients at the timewere furniture manufacturers. Now it has140 clients in 32 states, with 350 clinicsat different sites, said Bess Fuller, thecompany’s director of marketing.

The clients they work with sometimeshave a wellness program already inplace and they turn to HealthStat to man-age it. Others are starting off from scratchand put themselves in HealthStat’s

hands.Fuller said that companies like hers

keep track of long-term results and care-fully follow trends among the employeeswho participate in the available wellnessprograms.

Most of the areas that wellness pro-grams focus on deal directly or indirectlywith heart health, according to EmilyGrigg, a program manager for Health-Stat.

Smoking, obesity and high-fat dietscan all lead to heart disease. Encourag-ing employees to walk more was a bigpart of the recent challenge put to Park-dale employees over the summer, whereparticipants were encouraged to log50,000 steps a week.

“It’s one of the easiest ways to getphysical activity,” Grigg said. “And run-ning isn’t a good option for some peo-ple. Walking increases your heart rate. Itincreases blood circulation throughoutthe body. You don’t have to go out andrun a marathon to increase your hearthealth.”

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If you snore loudly enough to keep yoursleeping partner awake or to force him or herto resort to earplugs, your heart may be at riskas well. Restricted breathing during sleep --the underlying cause of snoring -- is linkedwith all types of cardiovascular disease. Sleepapnea, in which breathing briefly stops duringsleep, is linked with a higher risk of both car-

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Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is oneof the most common reasons why peopleare admitted to the hospital and why theyare readmitted as well. Nearly five millionAmericans are currently living with thecondition that can affect people of allages.

What is Congestive Heart Failure?Congestive heart failure is a fluid over-

load state. There’s too much fluid in thebody or in a particular area of the body.

Your heart’s main duty is to pump oxy-gen-rich blood to the rest of the body.When your heart can no longer pumpblood efficiently, blood may back up inother areas of the body and causeswelling. This swelling is called edemaand occurs mainly in the lungs (pul-monary edema) or in the ankles and feet(ankle edema), but also can be found inthe liver and gastrointestinal tract.

When the fluid is in the lungs, peoplehave difficulty breathing and the heart isnot getting the oxygen it needs to perform.Fluid is blocking the transfer of oxygen tothe blood.

What causes Congestive Heart Failure?The most common cause of congestive

heart failure is coronary artery disease, thenarrowing of blood vessels that bringblood and oxygen to the heart.

Heart valves that are not working prop-erly or an infection that has weakened theheart muscle will also cause congestiveheart failure.

When the heart valves are either tightlynarrow or are leaking, the heart becomesinefficient, causing fluid build up in lungsor in the legs and sometimes both placestogether.

What are the signs of Congestive HeartFailure?

Some people may not notice symptomsas they can develop slowly – weight gain,shortness of breath, swollen feet or ankles.

Keeping a record of weight gain canhelp your physician determine if you haveCHF.

In addition to noticing if your ankles orlegs are swelling, your doctor may notice

prominent neck veins. When you havefluid buildup in the body you can see it inthe neck veins because veins enlarge veryeasily.

A stethoscope will also let a physicianknow there’s a problem. He or she listensto lung sounds. There are certain soundscalled crackles that let the physician knowthere is a problem.

The heart itself will make certainsounds if something is not right. There maybe extra beats or extra sounds that tell thephysician your blood is not movingthrough the heart well. These sounds maymean the heart has a valve or valves notopening or closing well.

Pulmonary edema may be a little trick-ier for you to notice as a symptom. If youare having breathing problems or short-ness of breath, called dyspnea, you maybe experiencing fluid buildup in the lungs.Initially this shortness of breath only hap-pens when you are exerting yourself, but itcan become severe enough that you be-come short of breath when you are at rest.

If it progresses, you may also have dif-ficulty breathing when lying down andyou have to be propped up with pillows tosleep or you sleep in a recliner.

How do you treat Congestive HeartFailure?

There are two approaches for treatment– medical and mechanical.

The medical treatments are:Diuretics – the medicine that makes

you urinate more – helps move fluid outof the system.

Coreg/Carvedilol – medicine that de-creases your heart rate and allows theheart to pump more vigorously by affect-ing adrenalin levels in the body.

Blood pressure medicines are used toreduce the pressure allowing the heart topump blood more easily and readily.

Nitrates – medicine to dilate blood ves-sels keeps blood in the veins instead ofbuilding up in the heart and lungs, reduc-ing the volume load on the heart.

Lifestyle changes such as reducing saltintake are vital in treating congestive

Congestive heartfailure - knowthe facts

See THE FACTS, 19


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In one day, your heart on averagebeats 100,000 times, pumping 2,000gallons of oxygen-saturated bloodthrough 60,000 miles of twisting bloodvessels. These vessels are the link be-tween the cells of our organs and eachof our body parts. This is quite the in-tense workload for a muscle that’sroughly the size of a fist! In order to keepyour heart in optimal working condition,you must make the commitment to live alife centered on healthy eating and exer-cise habits. Following a diet low in satu-rated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol, aswell as engaging in moderate to vigor-ous cardiovascular activity for at least 30minutes 3 times a week, will drasticallyreduce your chances of developing heartdisease or suffering a heart attack.

Many times heart disease is thought ofas predominantly affecting men, how-ever this is not the case. Heart disease isthe number 1 killer of women in theUnited States, as well as the leadingcause of disability amongst women

( “ H e a r tFa i l u r e ,”2013). Nowoman isi m p e r v i-ous to de-ve lop ingthe dis-ease, andrisk increases with age. The best way toprotect yourself is to stay educated. Bybecoming aware of the signs and symp-toms of early stage heart disease, youcan potentially save your life.

The most common cause of heart dis-ease is the narrowing of the coronary ar-teries. These are the arteries that deliveroxygen enriched blood directly to theheart. This condition known as coronaryartery disease (CAD), develops slowlyover time and is the number 1 cause ofheart attacks. CAD is the leading causeof death in the United States in both menand women. The arteries supplyingblood to the heart muscle become hard-ened and narrow when a buildup of cho-lesterol, called plaque adheres to the

i n n e rwalls ofthe vessels( “ C o r o -nary Ar-t e r yDisease,”2 0 1 3 ) .T h i s

buildup of plaque is called atherosclero-sis. Over time the plaque thickens, mak-ing it more difficult for the blood to flowthrough the arteries. Eventually bloodsupply to the heart is completely cut offstarving the muscle of oxygen. This canlead to chest pain, or a heart attack.Heart attacks can cause permanent dam-age to the heart muscle. If proper meas-ures are not taken to treat CAD, theweakened heart muscle can fall into ir-regular rhythms (arrhythmias) or evenheart failure (“Coronary Artery Dis-ease,”2013). Heart failure is when theheart cannot effectively pump blood tothe rest of the body.

Heart failure affects 2.5 millionwomen in the United States. Even

though women account for nearly 50%of all hospital admissions for heart fail-ure, a mere 25% of women are includedin heart failure studies. Due to this lackof representation in studies, the advancesin heart failure therapies are predomi-nantly focused on the male population.

There are several differences betweenwomen with heart failure compared tomen with heart failure. Women have atendency to develop congestive heartfailure at on older age than men (“HeartFailure,”2013). Congestive heart failureis when the heart is no longer able topump away the blood returning to it fastenough, in turn causing congestion inthe veins. Heart failure can occur due toa weakened heart muscle (systolic heartfailure), or may be related to a stiff, in-flexible heart muscle (diastolic heart fail-ure) (“Heart Failure,”2013). The leadingcauses of heart failure in women stemfrom high blood pressure, coronary ar-tery disease, valvular disease, and dia-betes mellitus. Depression is also

Heart health and women: are you at risk?

See WOMEN, 19


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“Heart problems? Me?” If that’s yourreaction when you hear healthy-heartmessages, here’s a wake-up call: The factis, heart disease kills far more women ayear than cancer does.

Heart disease occurs when the arter-ies that supply blood to the heart musclebecome hardened and narrowed due toa buildup of plaque on the arteries innerwalls. Plaque is the accumulation of fat,cholesterol and other substances. Asplaque continues to build up in the ar-teries, blood flow to the heart is reducedwhich can lead to a heart attack.

Each year 500,000 Americans die ofheart disease, and approximately half ofthem are women. As early as age 45, aman’s risk begins to rise significantly. Fora woman, risk starts to increase at age55. Fifty percent of men and 64 percentof women who die suddenly of heartdisease have no previous symptoms.

Genetics plays a role in cardiovascu-lar health, but people should do all they

can, and the first step is knowing andunderstanding measures that are impor-tant for heart health.

Ideal cardiovascular health for adultsare defined by these measures: Neversmoked or quit more than a year ago, ahealthy body mass index, physical ac-tivity, blood pressure below 120/80, fast-ing blood glucose less than 100milligrams, total cholesterol less than200 milligrams, and eating a healthydiet. Certain risk factors such as gettingolder and family history can’t bechanged. It is important to realize thatYOU do have control over many others.

By exercising as little as 30 minutes aday you can reduce your risk of heartdisease. In fact, studies show that forevery hour of walking, you may increaseyour life expectancy by two hours.Walking is the simplest way to start andcontinue a fitness journey. The time toget moving is now. It’s easy to do shortbouts of activity several times a day. Trytheses tips: Do housework, work in theyard (rake leaves, mow the lawn, prune,etc), stand while talking on the phone,walk the dog, park farther away at the

store, walk to the store instead of driv-ing, go for a walk before breakfast, afterdinner or both, sit up instead of lying onthe sofa while watching TV, stretch toreach items in high places, squat orbend to look at items at floor level. Andinstead of asking someone else to bringyou something, get off the couch and getit yourself. You’ll feel better and yourhealth depends on it! Start with a smallgoal and commit to it regularly.

Eating healthy, well balanced mealscontaining at least 4.5 cups of fruits andvegetables per day, at least two servingsof 3.5 ounces of fish per a week, at leastthree 1 ounce servings of fiber-richwhole grains per a day. Limiting sodiumto less than 1500 milligrams a day,drinking no more than 36 ouncesweekly of sugary drinks and drinkingplenty of water will help lower your riskof heart disease.

A very simple way to help your hearthealth is by laughing. There could besome truth in that age-old expression“laughter is the best medicine.” Re-search suggests laughter can decreasestress hormones, reduce artery inflam-mation, and increase HDL, the goodcholesterol. Once you start laughing itforces you to feel better. A bonus withlaughter is that its effects have beenfound to last 24 hours. That’s a good rea-son to laugh every day. These facts canbe frightening, but they don’t need to be.The good news is that you have a lot ofpower to protect and improve your hearthealth. Regardless of your age or familyhistory, you can follow these importantsteps to lower your risk of heart disease.

For further questions please feel freeto contact Carolina Family Care at 704-734-0010 [email protected]

Keep your heart happy

From page 5

after watching a friend compete locally. “I have met some of the most influentialpeople of my life and have mentored many people through association with pag-eants,” said Jennifer.

As a child, Jennifer wanted to be involved in everything. Gymnastics was herfirst love at the tender age of 12 months. She furthered her athleticism by adding soft-ball, volleyball, dance, cheerleading, tennis, and basketball to her schedule. She let-tered in 11 varsity sports at Crest High School, played volleyball and softball atLimestone College and graduated with a 3.91 GPA and earned a Bachelor of Sci-ence degree. At Sherman College she is active in various clubs and president of theAthletic Club.

Since her crowning as Ms. United States in a July pageant she has traveled overthe state promoting her platform of wellness. Also close to her heart are the CysticFibrosis Foundation, the Dustin Garver Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network,Relay for Life, animal rescue organizations and, of course, the American Heart As-sociation.

Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and friends and her four dogs: Wylie,Elphie, Coach and Nessarose.

“Raising awareness in this national movement is my goal.” Jones said that by2020 the American Heart Association wants to improve cardiovascular health by 20percent.

Jennifer says the health of America is at a tipping point.Some experts predict today’s children are not expected to live as long as their par-

ents – the first time ever for an entire generation’s life expectancy to drop.The Heart Association points to obesity as one of the most expensive health care

problems surpassing smoking. Statistics point to one-third of U. S. children over-weight or obese, putting them at higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Researchhas shown that 12-year-olds have 45-year-old hearts.

“ ‘My Heart, My Life’ is a national rallying call for change – through simple be-havior adjustments that help people feel better and live longer,” says Jones. Walk-ing, healthy eating, and increased health education are focus areas.

“If Grandpa was here and able to walk I know he’d be in the middle of things,”said Jennifer.

RAISING AWARENESS: one step at a time


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From page 4

flossing, can keep these bacteria undercontrol. However, without proper oralhygiene, bacteria can reach levels thatmight lead to oral infections, such astooth decay and gum disease.

In addition, certain medications —such as decongestants, antihistamines,painkillers and diuretics — can reducesaliva flow. Saliva washes away food andneutralizes acids produced by bacteriain the mouth, helping to protect youfrom microbial invasion or overgrowththat might lead to disease.

Studies also suggest that oral bacteriaand the inflammation associated withperiodontitis — a severe form of gumdisease — might play a role in some dis-eases. In addition, certain diseases, suchas diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower thebody’s resistance to infection, makingoral health problems more severe.

Oral health: A window to your over-all health

What conditions may be linked tooral health?

Your oral health might affect, be af-fected by, or contribute to various dis-eases and conditions, including:

Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infec-

tion of the inner lining of your heart (en-docardium). Endocarditis typically oc-curs when bacteria or other germs fromanother part of your body, such as yourmouth, spread through your blood-stream and attach to damaged areas inyour heart.

Cardiovascular disease. Some re-search suggests that heart disease,clogged arteries and stroke might belinked to the inflammation and infec-tions that oral bacteria can cause.

Pregnancy and birth. Periodontitis hasbeen linked to premature birth and lowbirth weight.

Diabetes. Diabetes reduces thebody’s resistance to infection — puttingthe gums at risk. Gum disease appearsto be more frequent and severe amongpeople who have diabetes. Researchshows that people who have gum dis-ease have a harder time controlling theirblood sugar levels.

HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such aspainful mucosal lesions, are common inpeople who have HIV/AIDS.

Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — whichcauses bones to become weak and brit-tle — might be linked with periodontalbone loss and tooth loss.

Alzheimer’s disease. Tooth loss before

ORAL HEALTH: the heart connection

LAVERYS: heart problemsdonʼt slow them downFrom page 8

and he came out of surgery feeling “pretty good.”That was February 2011, and he went to Carolina Care of Cherryville for rehab.

He had some fluid complications and said he had to go back into the hospital. Theylet him come home, but apparently wasn’t ready to do so.

“I started having tremors and the Cherryville Rescue Squad was called. Back tothe hospital I went! The doctor found an infection and told my family there mightbe a chance I might not come back from this one,” he said. “The doctor told my fam-ily they had done all they could do, but it was God’s will I came back. I’m still here,by His grace!”

Don spent many rehab days (50 at the hospital and at rest homes), but was finallyable, once again to come back home.

“I feel pretty good now, but still have some health issues.”Don admits the COPD is a result of his smoking for 50 years. He has been quit

for about 20 years now, still he was told the damage was done before he quit. Hestill uses oxygen and has for the last four years.

“It’s aggravating, having to take it with you. I can’t go on any more overseas mis-sion trips and I hate that!”

The former long-line truck driver and his wife have been married for 60 years,having tied the knot in 1953. Don, a Waco High School alum, met Willie, a formerCHS alum, in Cherryville.

“A friend introduced us in 1951, we met again in ’52. I loved her then and I’veloved her ever since!” he said, smiling.

“The Lord has been good to us,” Willie said. “It makes a strong believer out ofyou when you have to go through illnesses. You have to take what comes, but Hehelps you along the way.”

The two stay as active as they can, working outside and traveling.Don said he feels like he can do what he wants, but is still “not 100 percent”.“The girls have really looked after us both,” he added. As for Willie, she “feels great!” though she admits she has trouble with walking,

which she feels comes from the heart problems.“I like my flowers and I love gardening. I love being outside in our ‘haven’!”The Laverys have four girls (Donna, Barbara, Anita and Carol Anne) and six grand-

kids. Willie and Don attend Anthony Grove Baptist Church.When asked what they would tell young people today about taking care of them-

selves in advance, Don said, “I’d tell them if I knew back then what I know now, itwould have made a world of difference. Some people it doesn’t bother them tosmoke, but I wouldn’t do it for nothing. Just stay on top of your health situation.”

Willie agreed, adding, “Many women sometimes don’t take the time to care forthemselves, especially when taking care of a family. Stop and think. Look after your-self!”

age 35 might be a risk factor forAlzheimer’s disease.

Other conditions. Other conditionsthat might be linked to oral health in-clude Sjogren’s syndrome — an immunesystem disorder that causes dry mouth— and eating disorders.

Because of these potential links, besure to tell your dentist if you’re takingany medications or have had anychanges in your overall health — espe-cially if you’ve had any recent illnessesor you have a chronic condition, such as

diabetes.Shelby Dental Care Center shows pa-

tients how to protect their oral health!To protect your oral health, practicegood oral hygiene every day. • Brush your teeth at least twice a day.• Floss daily.• Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.• Replace your toothbrush every threeto four months or sooner if bristles arefrayed.• Schedule regular dental checkups.


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Who Can Use CST?Carolina Specialty Transport provides professional transportation serv-ices when transportation by an automobile is not an option and thehigh cost of an ambulance is not warranted. Our vehicles are equippedwith portable ramps.

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From page 9

Avocados have antioxidants themselves,the greatest content of which is in the darkgreen flesh of the fruit. Here’s how to peel anavocado to retain as much of that valuable,dark green flesh as possible:Cut the avocado lengthwise and twist to

create two halves. Remove the seed by eas-ing a knife blade into the seed, and twist toremove. Cut each avocado half again to cre-ate quarters. Using your thumb and indexfinger, peel each quarter from the top downas you would with a banana.After you’ve peeled your avocado, try this

tasty, heart-healthy recipe:

Heart-Healthy Black Forest Cherry Mousse 2 avocados, peeled and seeded • 2 fresh ba-nanas • 2 cups frozen cherries • 1/2 cupraw carob powder • 2 tsp vanilla • 1/8 tspunrefined sea salt • 1/2 cup agave nectar •1/2 level tsp lime zest, not packed

1. Place all ingredients in a food proces-sor with the “S” blade. Process until silky. 2.Serve in parfait glasses with an elegant gar-nish such as mint or lemon balm, sprinklesof coconut, or raspberries. Enjoy! Makes 2-1/2 cups* Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metab-olism, news release, Feb. 2, 2012

From page 14

heart failure. Salt acts as a magnet to water.The more salt you put in your system, themore water your body retains. The morewater you put into your system, the higherthe pressure goes.

The mechanical treatments are:Revascularization – open heart or bypass

surgery. Restoring blood flow will allow theheart to beat more strongly and heart musclefunction overall improves. Valve surgery – Repairing or replacing

valves that aren’t working properly will stopthe blood from leaking and will allow theblood to move more easily from one cham-ber to the next.

BiV-ICD – Biventricular-Implantable Car-dioverter Defibrillator is a special type ofpacemaker put in by a cardiologist. This de-vice goes underneath the skin near the col-larbone. It sends wires down to the heart andtells the heart to beat in a more coordinatedfashion. People who have weak heart mus-cles can have serious heart rhythm problems,which can be lethal. This device can shockthe heart back to normal rhythm.Heart transplant: This option only comes

up in special instances.Avoiding development of congestive heart

failure means practicing a healthy lifestyle –keep weight, blood pressure and diabetesunder control, stop smoking, exercise regu-larly, and get appropriate amount of sleep.

HEART DISEASE: and bone loss

THE FACTS: on congestive heart failure

WOMEN: are you at risk?From page 15

frequently associated with heart failure inwomen.The signs and symptoms of heart failure are

shared amongst men and women, however;women may be more likely to suffer from short-ness of breath, and have more difficulty exercis-ing than men. Women also experience swellingaround their ankles more frequently than men.A heart attack strikes someone every 34 sec-

onds. Heart attacks present themselves differentlyin women than men. Many women think thesigns of a heart attack are highly identifiable, butin many cases they can present themselves in asubtler fashion. It is not uncommon for a womanto experience upper-back pressure, dizziness,lightheadedness, or even fainting (“Heart AttackSymptoms in Women,” 2013).Chest pain is the most common symptom of a

heart attack, but can feel differently for a womanthan a man. Women may experience a squeez-ing sensation, or a feeling of fullness anywhere inthe chest; it is not necessarily relegated to the leftside (“Heart Attack Symptoms in Women,” 2013).You also need to be on the lookout for pain in thearms, neck, or jaw. The onset of the pain may begradual or sudden. The pain may increase anddecrease in intensity before reaching its peak. Stomach pain is another key heart attack

symptom that can many times be mistaken forheartburn or indigestion. The stomach pain mayrange from subtle, to an overwhelming crushingsensation.If you are experiencing shortness of breath

with no apparent etiology, you may be experi-encing a heart attack. It may feel as though youhave just taken part in an intense workout, whenin reality you have not moved at all. Shortnessof breath and nausea often accompany light-headedness.Sweating and fatigue are other indicators that

you may be having a heart attack. It is commonamongst women who are having a heart attack tobreak out in a nervous, cold sweat. It will feelmore like a stress-related sweating incident thanperspiration from being exposed to heat or en-gaging in exercise (“Heart Attack Symptoms inWomen,” 2013). Feeling extremely tired evenafter resting is also a symptom. You may feeltiredness in your chest and have trouble doingsimple activities of daily living.If you experience any of these symptoms, or

feel that you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1immediately! Time is of the essence!Continuously educating yourself about heart

health is the first step in preventing yourself frombeing another statistic. Make sure you know thesigns and symptoms of heart related emergenciesas well as other heart related problems. Devotingyourself to a healthy lifestyle in regards to eatingand exercise habits, will drastically reduce yourchances of developing heart disease, or otherheart related afflictions. Keep your heart healthy!

Coronary Artery Disease. (2013) Retrieved August 23,2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women. (2013) Retrieved Au-gust 22, 2013, from http://www.heart.org/ HEARTORG/Con-ditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp

Heart Failure. (2013) Retrieved August 22, 2013, fromhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061


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