Facts on Heart Attacks

1. Heart attacks can be silent

One in five heart attacks occurs without the person even knowing they had one.

2. Heart attacks affect women differently

Women may experience different symptoms than men. These include pain in the back, arm, neck, shoulder. As well as, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and vomiting.

3. Young women are at a higher risk than men

Women under the age of 50 are twice as likely to die of a heart attack as men in the same age group.

4. Another reason to hate Mondays

Heart attacks are more likely to occur on Monday mornings than other days of the week. Scientists attribute this to the disruption in our circadian rhythm over the weekend which leads to increased blood pressure and other changes to the nervous system.

Pediatric Heart Health

Helpful Tip: Healthy eating habits from an early age can lower the risk of developing several deadly diseases later on.

Risk factors for heart disease:

Family history
Diabetes
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Vaping/Drug use

How to Raise a Heart Healthy Child

Keep moving
Engage in activities like biking, walking, swimming, or outdoor games.
Make dinner a family affair
Involve your child in cooking and planning meals.
Check salt intake
Avoid processed foods and keep salt shakers off the table.
Stay involved
Be an advocate by promoting healthy food choices at school and ensuring your child’s pediatrician monitors cardiovascular indicators like Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and cholesterol.
Be realistic
Set achievable goals and limits, emphasizing small, gradual changes for significant long-term improvements in your child’s health.

Be positive
Celebrate achievements to boost their self-esteem.
Limit screen time
Restrict screen time to two hours daily to combat inactive behavior, excess snacking, and reduce the risk of obesity and cardiovascular issues.
Schedule checkups before sports season
Prioritize pre-sports season checkups to assess the risk of sudden cardiac death, particularly for athletic children.
Go to the grocery store together
Shop together to educate your child about nutrition labels, focusing on whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish, and nuts.
Keep healthy options on hand
Provide healthy snack options like whole grain crackers, string cheese, Greek yogurt with apple slices, nuts, and dried fruit after school.