Sharing the love in a heartbeat

Today is “Wear Red Day” an initiative from Heart Research Australia to raise awareness and put a spotlight on heart health – “Wear red for those close to your heart”.

Your heart is the symbol of love, especially on a day like today, Valentine’s Day. When you feel an emotion your brain signals to your heart which responds with rapid beating, giving you a sensation that your emotions come from your heart. The buzz from the rapid beating after exercise, when you see a loved one or when you feel fear or anxiety.

Your heart is so much more than a host of your emotions. It is the key organ in your body that pumps the blood around your cardiovascular system giving you oxygen and nutrients and getting rid of waste. It is so much of our everyday life. It is important not to take it for granted.

There are a few different types of heart disease including coronary artery disease (where your coronary arteries become damaged or disease due to cholesterol deposits or plaque), hypertension (high blood pressure affecting blood flow to your organs), cardiac arrest (a sudden loss of blood flow affecting the heart being able to pump), congestive heart failure (the heart muscle doesn’t pump as well as it should do), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat from the electrical signals that coordinates the heartbeat), peripheral heart disease (narrowed arteries affecting how the blood is pumped around the body due to fatty deposits and calcium build up), stroke (blood supply to the brain is affected by the arteries), congenital heart disease (heart abnormality from a birth defect).

With the help of GP’s, doctors, specialist, medical imaging professionals and nurses we are cared for, treated and supported during diagnosis, treatment and recovery. With the help of pharmaceutical medicine and medical device equipment we can be diagnosed quickly and treated effectively giving us the opportunity to live and live longer.

Prevention and wellbeing are just as important as treatment and ongoing care. Being aware, taking steps (literally) and focusing on a healthy lifestyle can make a difference.

How to keep the magical muscle, the heart, healthy:

Exercise - 30 minutes of activity every day. Walk, run, join a sports team, go the gym or simple choose the stairs instead of the elevator.

Eat healthy food - it’s a choice, so choose wisely. Vegetables and good fats, avoiding saturated and trans fats as well as sugary soft drinks.

Smoking - all the research from over the years show that smoking damages the blood vessels and the heart. The muscle is delicate and needs protecting.

Be aware - of what the symptoms can be. The symptoms can include shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness and pains across your chest, neck, jaw and back. Be aware that sometimes there are no symptoms.

Seek advice - Speak to your Doctor if you have any concerns.

The heart is a magical muscle that is essential to keep healthy for us to live long healthy lives. Most of us are born with healthy hearts but we need to proactively work hard at keeping it healthy.