By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — “Take heart,” “get to the heart of the matter,” “a heart of gold,” “home is where the heart is”—the word “heart” has made its way into the English language in all manner of phrases and idioms. The heart has also been seen as the seat of love and other emotions. And it is no wonder people hold this organ in such high regard.

The heart is responsible for pumping blood — which carries oxygen and vital nutrients — to every part of the body. With such a vital role to play, the heart could be in the spotlight year round, but instead February has been named American Heart Month.

Despite the vital nature of the organ, many Americans still do not take care of their heart in the way that they should. Heart disease remains the number one killer of people in the United States, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, someone in the country will suffer a cardiac event every 25 seconds.

While the majority of these cardiac events are not immediately fatal, by the time heart problems make themselves that apparent, the damage may have already been done.

“My number one goal is prevention,” said River Parishes Hospital Cardiologist Keith Hickey. “Once you’ve had a heart attack that already decreases life expectancy.”

He also noted cardiovascular disease is fairly prevalent in the local community.

There are, however, measures that can be taken to try to prevent heart disease. Quitting smoking, improving diet and exercising regularly can all reduce the risk of developing heart problems, but perhaps the best thing a person can do to prevent a heart attack is to keep abreast of his or her individual health needs.

Peripheral medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are major contributors to the development of heart disease, so being screened for these and following the physician’s orders are extremely important, said Hickey.

Also of utmost importance is recognizing whether one falls into the high-risk category. According to Hickey, factors such as age (over 55 for men and over 65 for women), genetics, weight, lifestyle and whether a patient has had previous cardiovascular problems all play a role in how likely he or she is to develop heart disease.

Hickey said men should begin getting screened for heart health in their late 40s to early 50s, and women should begin getting screened in their late 50s. If someone is diabetic or has two or more risk factors, he or she should get screened earlier.

“I don’t like waiting for symptoms,” said Hickey.

Hickey also said he likes to get a total picture of the health of a patient.

“I like to know what every artery in the body looks like,” he said.

Because early detection is so vital, Hickey suggests finding a physician with whom the patient feels comfortable.

“I pride myself on getting to know my patients,” said Hickey. “If they have a personal relationship with you, they are more likely to call you when things start to go south.”

Although early detection is optimal, Hickey said some warning signs to look out for are chest pain or tightness, a lack of energy, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, weakness, pain radiating down the arms and vomiting. Anyone experiencing these symptom, which Hickey said usually follow a kind of progression, should seek medical attention immediately.

Hickey noted that one common problem that is often confused with heart disease is acid reflux because the symptoms are similar. He said the major difference is reflux symptoms show up when one is lying down or after one has eaten a big meal while cardiac problems generally surface after some type of physical exertion. Adding to the confusion is the fact that glycerin alleviates the symptoms of both.

The bottom line, however, is that heart disease does not discriminate. It can strike anyone at any age, so proper health maintenance is key.

“Reverse the reversible risk factors,” said Hickey. “And see your doctor regularly.”

For more information on heart disease and what can be done to prevent it, visit www.americanheart.org.