OTTAWA – National Wear Red Day is tomorrow, and the LaSalle County Health Department wants to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives. February is American Heart Month, a month to spread awareness about the number one killer of women in Illinois, heart disease. While heart disease has traditionally been seen as a “man’s disease”’ one in three women dies of heart disease each year. Women are also more likely than men to exhibit signs of heart attack such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or back and jaw pain.
Factors that may increase your chances of getting heart disease include:
· High Blood Cholesterol
· High Blood Pressure
· Diabetes
· Being Overweight
· Family history of early heart disease
· Age (55 or older for women)
· Being physically inactive
· Smoking
Experts say you should know your numbers when it comes to cholesterol and blood pressure, plus controlling your weight, being physically active and decreasing your stress level can also have added benefits.
Call 911 or get to the hospital right away if you experience any of the following.
· Chest pain or discomfort
· Shortness of breath
· Breaking out in a cold sweat
· Sudden dizziness or lightheadedness
· Unusual upper body pain (arms, back, jaw)
· Skipped heartbeats
· Unusual or unexplained fatigue
On Air Now
Up Next
Mon - Fri: 06:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Mon - Fri: 11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
Mon - Fri: 03:00 PM - 07:00 PM
