Join the Peoria City/County Health Department in wearing red on Friday, February 1, 2013, National Wear Red Day, to help raise awareness about heart disease in women.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. A woman’s risk for heart disease rises between the ages of 40 and 60, but can begin at any age. Diana Scott, Peoria City/County Health Department Public Information Officer states, “No matter how old you are, you can take steps to lower your risk for heart disease! Start by planning heart healthy activities. Eat a healthy diet, including breakfast every day with whole grains and fruits. Get active with movement programs, walking, or worksite wellness programs! There are foods and activities for everyone to enjoy while staying healthy.”

Here are a few heart healthy tips to start:
Choose a quick, healthy breakfast option such as yogurt with fruit or whole grain toast with banana. Heart health also means a healthy weight. Many people who maintain long-term weight loss eat breakfast daily.
Add physical activity for 2 and a half hours a week to strengthen muscles by raising breathing and heart rates. Activity can be spread throughout the week or into smaller chunks of time during the day.
Eat healthy all day long with a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol content. Choose healthy snacks.
Be smoke-free and avoid secondhand smoke (inhaling other people’s smoke causes health problems similar to those of smokers). Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. If you think you’re ready to quit, call 1-866-QUIT-YES for help. 

Know the signs and major symptoms of a heart attack:
Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
Unusual or unexplained fatigue.
Feeling weak, light-headed, faint, nauseated, or sudden dizziness.
Chest pain or discomfort.
Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder. Upper body discomfort.
Shortness of breath.
Break out in a cold sweat.

If you think that you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

For more information on public health issues, visit our website at www.pcchd.org or call us at 679-6131.