DAN'S PAPERS, February 27, 2009 Page 27 www.danshamptons.com
Health/Fitness
By Debbie Tuma When people think of February, they think of Valentine’s hearts. But they don’t often think of their own hearts. So to promote awareness, this month has been named, “National Heart Disease Month.” And in keeping with this tradition, last month Southampton Hospital and the American Heart and Stroke Association teamed up to present a very informative lecture at the Parrish Hall, called “Women and Heart Disease.” Over the years, as women have been entering the workplace and rising to high level positions in business, they have taken on more stress, with the addition of raising families. And, over the years, the number of women experiencing heart disease and strokes has grown, to one in four. Dr. Prateek Dalal, of Eastern Suffolk Cardiology, explained to about 50 women at this event how important it is for women to educate themselves on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and strokes. Signs of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure, pain shooting up the arm and shortness of breath, while signs of a stroke could be slurred speech or vision. Dr. Dalal pointed out that it’s important for women to be aware and pay attention to their bodies and how they feel, and more importantly to get the medical attention they need, as soon as possible. “Too often, women ignore symptoms, or they take too long to get the care they need,” he said. “They need to take their health into their own hands and make sure they get help if they need it.” He said lifestyle can play an important role in contributing to the increase of heart problems, from lack of exercise, to unhealthy diets and increased demands of stress with the multi-tasking that many women do.
Debbie Tuma
Women’s Heart Health Symposium: New Info
Malfatani, Kraus, Barbara Poliwoda (Regional Dir., American Heart & Stroke Assn.), Deb Craven (Communication Outreach, SH Hospital) “For example, people think that drinking red wine is healthy, but they may not realize that one glass is OK, but after that alcohol becomes a contributing factor to things like arrhythmias, or atrial fibrillation,” he said, adding that women need to modify their drinking, since some are more sensitive to alcohol than others. Smoking has long been a contributing factor to heart disease. With even more studies being done in recent years, there is proof that smoking contributes to many heart and lung problems. He recommended women try and stop smoking, the earlier the better. Eastern Suffolk Cardiology in Southampton has many tools for measuring and predicting heart problems before they happen. They have stress tests available, and EKG, echocardiograms, among other lifesaving tests. Sometimes heart problems, such as arrhythmias, can be detected during a routine physi-
cal in the doctor’s office. If detected, there are numerous treatments, such as blood thinners and medication to prevent strokes or heart attacks. Another speaker during this informative evening, was Southampton Hospital Exercise Physiologist Peggy Kraus, M.A., who spoke about the importance of fitting exercise and movement into our lives. “Our lives have become more sedentary, and we need to make an effort to get up and move around,” she said. “Even a 20-minute walk will uplift and revitalize you. You don’ have to run a marathon.” She recommended doing simple things to fit exercise in, such as walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, or parking the car a bit farther away and walking a few extra blocks. And she said people will be better off sticking to an exercise routine if they find the activities they’re doing enjoyable, like dancing, swimming or playing tennis. “As we age, it’s important to keep our bodies flexible and strong, which is only done by moving and exercising the body,” she said. She also discussed the importance of having a low-fat diet, and eating plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grains, and of making healthy choices when we can. Kathy Malfatani, RN, of Southampton Hospital, discussed the importance of stress management, and discussed the many ways we can reduce the stress in our lives. She gave the group an example of a breathing and visualization exercise to do in their seats. Malfatani said women could learn how to meditate, and take yoga classes, which are excellent for calming our bodies, mind and spirit. She summed it up by saying, “When you take time to breathe right, clear your mind of your daily problems, and acquire a positive mental attitude, you will automatically be uplifted.”