February is Heart Month –

* 1 in 3 deaths are cardiac related in the US

* Almost every 40 seconds someone dies of heart disease or stroke

* 99% percent of us need to improve our health

* #1 killer of women in the united states, more than any type of cancer combined

With that said, Heart attacks, know the signs (graphic 2):

1. Pain or discomfort in the chest

2. Lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting

3. Jaw, neck back pain

4. Discomfort in the arm and shoulder

5. Shortness of breath

In men a heart attack generally presents in the Left arm, but in women can be both arms the back. With women, the pressure and squeezing in the chest will last several minutes, go away, and come back intermittently. Women may also experience cold sweats. (tell story about my aunt)

As with any medical situation, if you experience these symptoms, call your doctor or 911.

Heart.org/heartattack

Heart.org/answersbyheart

Keys to having a healthy heart (graphic 3):

* Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol (tell my blood pressure story)

* Be aware of sodium intake

* At least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise/ 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise.