By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

Celine Dion released the single My Heart Will Go On as part of the Titanic movie sound track in November of 1997.  The song hit the top of the charts in 25 countries and was the best-selling single in 1998.  The song dominated the 1999 Grammy Awards and won an Academy Award.  

Celine is known for her powerful voice with strong technical skills.  She recently has suspended all shows due to her developing a rare disease known as stiff-person syndrome.  It was announced in January of 2024 that Amazon MGM Studios will be releasing a documentary about this topic titled I Am: Celine Dion. 

February is American Heart Month, which is appropriate considering we are celebrating Valentine’s Day.  National Wear Red Day® is part of the message about heart health for women.  The message Go Red for Women is to raise awareness about the importance of heart health.

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published data indicating heart disease and heart deaths are trending upwards since the pandemic.  The trend from 2010 to 2019 was a decrease in deaths associated with heart disease and stroke.  From 2019 to 2022, there has been a 9.3% increase in heart disease deaths.  This negates the 8.9% decrease from 2010 to 2019.  

The National Vital Statistics System reported 10,951,403 heart disease deaths between 2010 and 2022 in adults over the age of 35 years. Of the almost 11 million deaths, 75% were related to heart disease and 16.9% were due to stroke.  The trend is not just in older adults, but an increase in cardiovascular deaths occurred in the 35 to 54-year old range.  

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women.  Every 33 seconds someone dies from heart disease.  The CDC reported for women 1 out of every 5 deaths is related to heart disease.  In the United States, 60 million women are living with some form of heart disease, which equates to 44% of the female population. Women in rural areas have a 22% increased risk of heart disease compared to those in urban areas. In a survey of women, only 56% were aware that heart disease is the number one cause of death in women.  More education is needed.  

The most common form is coronary artery disease (CAD) where plaques or lesions develop in the blood vessels of the heart blocking blood flow and resulting in a heart attack.  The risk of CAD increases in women after menopause.  Women may not show the same signs and symptoms of a heart attack like men.  They could still have the classic chest pain, jaw pain, back pain and sweating as men, but they could just have an upset stomach and extreme tiredness.  These symptoms do not always prompt someone to call 911.  

Women can be prone to atrial fibrillation, which is a heart rhythm.  The electrical signals within the heart fire faster than normal and the heart muscle will not pump blood effectively.  The heart rate (pulse) becomes very fast and can trigger dangerous rhythms in other parts of the heart. This can feel like your heart is racing too fast.  It may come and go at different times.  Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.  

Another form of heart disease is heart failure. This is when the heart muscle is working too hard and enlarges. This change results in the heart not being able to pump enough blood to the body.  Symptoms can include swelling of the legs and arms, shortness of breath, lack of exercise capacity, and feeling tired or worn out.  

The major risk factors contributing to heart disease include an elevated blood pressure (greater than 130/80), high cholesterol, specifically low density lipoproteins (LDL), smoking/vaping, diabetes, unhealthy diets, being physically inactive, stress, and depression.  Talk to your health professional for ways to modify these risks.

Tips from the American Heart Association suggest knowing your numbers such as blood pressure and cholesterol.  They encourage making changes to improve your well-being and lifestyle.  Learning CPR, joining heart research studies, and raising awareness especially in women are all goals for the Go Red for Women campaign.  The CDC provides resources with their WISEWomanTM website.

Learn more about heart health so your heart will go on!

ONU Healthwise is offering the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine clinics occur Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. Please call for more information.

ONU Healthwise Pharmacy 

419-772-3784