February is American Heart Month

Photo: A man in military uniform and woman make a heart shape with hands

February is American Heart Month.  Heart disease is a major problem nation wide.  Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack.  About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year—that’s 1 out of every 4 deaths.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.  To learn more about heart disease, care, and prevention continue reading the information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that follows below:

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type in the United States is coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), which occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Heart Attack Symptoms
The five major symptoms of a heart attack are:

• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
• Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint.
• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder.
• Shortness of breath.
• If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, call 9–1–1 immediately.

Plan for Prevention
The situation is alarming, but there is good news—heart disease is preventable and controllable. We can start by taking small steps every day to bring our loved ones and ourselves closer to heart health.  Some health conditions and lifestyle factors can put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. You can help prevent heart disease by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you may have.  As always, check with your doctor before making any major lifestyle changes.

• Eat a healthy diet.  Choosing healthful meal and snack options can help you avoid heart disease and its complications.  Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables—adults should have at least 5 servings each day.  Eating foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high cholesterol.  Limiting salt or sodium in your diet also can lower your blood pressure.
• Maintain a healthy weight.  Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for heart disease.  Check with your health care provider to determine whether your weight is in a healthy range. 
• Exercise regularly.  Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.  The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.  Be sure to check with your health care provider before starting any new fitness regime.
• Monitor your blood pressure.  High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis.  You can check your blood pressure at home, at a pharmacy, or at a doctor's office.  Talk to your health care provider about a talking blood pressure machine if you have vision loss.
• Don't smoke.  Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease.  If you don't smoke, don't start.  If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible.  Your health care provider can suggest ways to help you quit.
• Limit alcohol use.  Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can increase your blood pressure.  Men should stick to no more than two drinks per day, and women to no more than one.  
• Have your cholesterol checked.  Your health care provider should test your cholesterol levels at least once every 5 years.  Talk with your doctor about this simple blood test.
• Manage your diabetes.  If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and talk with your doctor about treatment options. Talk to your health care provider about a talking glucometer if you have vision loss.
• Take your medicine.  If you're taking medication to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions carefully.  Always ask questions if you don't understand something.

One Step at a Time
As you begin your journey to better heart health, keep these things in mind:

• Don't become overwhelmed. Every step brings you closer to a healthier heart.
• Don't go it alone. The journey is more fun when you have company. Ask friends and family to join you.
• Don't get discouraged. You may not be able to take all of the steps at one time. Get a good night's sleep and do what you can tomorrow.
• Reward yourself. Find fun things to do to decrease your stress. Round up some friends for a walk, join a singing group, or have a healthy dinner with your family or friends.

Use Your Resources
The Veterans Health Adminstration has launched the MOVE!^® weight self-managment program for Veterans who want to improve their health. The first step is to let your VA primary care team know that you are interested in participating.

1. Your VA Primary Care Team will encourage you to complete the MOVE!23 Questionnaire. You can complete this at the VA, or you can do this now at www.move.va.gov/mov23.asp.
2. The MOVE!23 produces a report based on your answers to help identify your specific needs. Print your report and take it with you to your next primary care visit.
3. The team will help you set some initial goals such as how much total weight you want to lose, how much you want to lose each week, and your plans for increasing activity and decreasing calories.
4. With your teams's guidance, you will choose from the support options available at you facility.  Support options may include group classes, telephone support, and specialty consultations.

Click on the image below to play a brief VA video on the MOVE weight mangment program

 

CLICK HERE to learn more about the VA’s MOVE program

CLICK HERE to visit the CDC Heart Month Website

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.  Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death, but people with diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.  25.8 million Americans have diabetes — 8.3 percent of the U.S. population. Of these, 7 million do not know they have the disease.  In 2010, about 1.9 million people ages 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes.*

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of diabetes. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.  Diabetic eye disease may include:

• Diabetic Retinopathy—damage to the blood vessels in the retina.
• Cataract—clouding of the eye's lens. Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes.
• Glaucoma—increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision. A person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults. 

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.  In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision.  If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.

Photo: Two boys playing as seen by someone with unaffected vision

Photo: The same image as seen by someone with Diabetic Retinopathy

Blood vessels damaged from diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss in two ways:

1. Fragile, abnormal blood vessels can develop and leak blood into the center of the eye, blurring vision. This is proliferative retinopathy and is the fourth and most advanced stage of the disease.
2. Fluid can leak into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision occurs. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision. This condition is called macular edema. It can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, although it is more likely to occur as the disease progresses. About half of the people with proliferative retinopathy also have macular edema. 

All people with diabetes--both type 1 and type 2--are at risk to develop diabetic retinopathy. That's why everyone with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Between 40 to 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some stage of diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetic retinopathy, your doctor can recommend treatment to help prevent its progression.

If you have diabetes get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year and remember:

• Proliferative retinopathy can develop without symptoms. At this advanced stage, you are at high risk for vision loss.
• Macular edema can develop without symptoms at any of the four stages of diabetic retinopathy.
• You can develop both proliferative retinopathy and macular edema and still see fine. However, you are at high risk for vision loss.
• Your eye care professional can tell if you have macular edema or any stage of diabetic retinopathy. Whether or not you have symptoms, early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may need an eye exam more often. People with proliferative retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 95 percent with timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care.  The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that better control of blood sugar levels slows the onset and progression of retinopathy. The people with diabetes who kept their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible also had much less kidney and nerve disease.  This level of blood sugar control may not be best for everyone, including some elderly patients, children under age 13, or people with heart disease. Be sure to ask your doctor if such a control program is right for you.  Other studies have shown that controlling elevated blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce the risk of vision loss. Controlling these will help your overall health as well as help protect your vision.**

*Information gathered from the National Diabetes Education Program
CLICK HERE to read the Diabetes Snapshot from the National Diabetes Education Program
 
**Information gathered from the National Eye Institute
CLICK HERE to learn more about Diabetic Retinopathy from the National Eye Institute