February is American Heart Month!

Approximately 2300 American’s pass away due to heart disease each day. But with awareness, education, prevention and new treatments the American Heart Association believes those numbers can be reduced. So this month we are going to focus on knowing the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke.  Because early intervention is essential.  We will also discuss the link between heart disease and hearing loss and how to prevent heart disease.

Heart Attack Symptoms

• Chest Pain/Discomfort:  Symptoms may occur in the center of the chest and include pain, discomfort, squeezing, fullness or uncomfortable pressure.  Symptoms will last more than a few minutes and may go away, then return.
• Discomfort in other areas of the body: including the back, neck, jaw, stomach or both arms.
• Shortness of Breath, with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include nausea, vomiting or lightheaded feeling.

For more information on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack visit: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack

Stroke Symptoms

The Symptoms of Stroke fall under the acronym FAST F – Facial Drooping:  Ask the person to smile, does one side of the face droop? A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm numb?  As the person to raise both arms, does one drift downward?) S – Speech Difficulty: Is the person’s speech slurring?  Can they repeat a simple sentence correctly? T – TIME TO CALL 911 – If any of these symptoms are present (even if they go away), call 911! For more information on the signs and symptoms of a stroke visit: https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms

Heart Disease and Hearing Loss

Since the heart is responsible for pumping blood through our body, a healthy cardiovascular system has been connected to a healthy hearing system.  Research conducted over the past 60 years shows that an unhealthy circulatory system due to heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, can negatively impact your hearing as reduced blood flow and trauma to the inner ear can result in permanent hearing loss.  So how do we prevent cardiovascular disease and protect our hearing? Experts recommend the following to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system:

• Regular exercise
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid smoking
• Reduce stress
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Sleep at least 8 hours per night

If you are at risk for cardiovascular disease or experience a stroke, yearly monitoring of your hearing is recommended.  If permanent hearing loss does occur, hearing devices are an excellent solution to improve your hearing and communication abilities with family and friends. If you would like to schedule an appointment for yourself or a family member for a hearing evaluation or to discuss hearing devices, please call us at (816) 205-7220.