February – American Heart Month

It’s that time of year when the heart comes into focus, and for good reason. It’s about more than just chocolate, valentines, and expressions of love. Your heart is a key element of good health, so you’d better take good care of it.

THE AMERICAN Heart Association warns that heart attacks and strokes are life-or-death emergencies, and that every second counts. If you see someone with or personally have any of the symptoms listed below, immediately call 9-1-1 or your local emergency response number.

HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS

Symptoms can vary and are not always experienced to the same degree. Common signs include:

• Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain with pressure or spasm radiating to the jaw.
• Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body: one or both arms, the back, neck or stomach

• Shortness of breath

• Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or vomiting

Women may report different or additional signs:

• Heartburn or abdominal pain
• Clammy skin
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Extreme fatigue

STROKE WARNING SIGNS

If one or more of these signs is present, don’t delay:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing from one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

For more information, visit www.heart.org, or see www.goredforwomen.org.

February has been declared National Heart Health Month, USANA has many heart health products, specifically designed to support healthy heart function.