1. HEART HEALTH

2. LET’S SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HUMAN HEART!

3. How many chambers is the heart divided into? 4

4. There are four parts of the heart which include; the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. The blood from the body with oxygen is pumped through the right atrium and the right ventricle to the lungs, whereas the blood with oxygen from the lungs is pumped through the left atrium and the left ventricle to the body.* *facts.randomhistory.com/human-heart-facts.html

5. The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a lifetime.* *facts.randomhistory.com/human-heart-facts.html DID YOU KNOW?

6. What African American doctor performed the first successful open heart surgery in 1893? Dr. Daniel Hale Williams

7. DR. DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS Daniel Hale Williams pursued a pioneering career in medicine. An African-American doctor, in 1893, Williams opened Provident Hospital, the first medical facility to have an interracial staff and black-owned hospital. Williams later became chief surgeon of the Freedmen’s Hospital In 1893, Williams made history when he operated on James Cornish, a man with a severe stab wound to his chest who was brought to Provident. Without the benefits of a blood transfusion or modern surgical procedures, Williams successfully sutured Cornish’s pericardium (the membranous sac enclosing the heart), becoming the first person to perform open-heart surgery. Cornish lived for many years after the operation.* *www.nobelprize.org

8. A healthy heart pumps how many gallons of blood a day? 2000 Though weighing only 11 ounces on average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day.* *facts.randomhistory.com/human-heart-facts.html

9. What is the procedure used to open narrow or blocked coronary (heart) arteries. Coronary angioplasty Angioplasty can restore blood flow to the heart. During the procedure, a thin, flexible catheter (tube) with a balloon at its tip is threaded through a blood vessel to the affected artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque against the artery wall. This restores blood flow through the artery.

10. Why is it important for seniors to monitor their heart health? Heart disease is a major threat to senior health! 84 percent of people age 65 years and older die from heart disease.* www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/heart-healthy-habits-for-seniors.aspx

11. What is heart disease? It’s the term given to a group of different health conditions that affect the heart. In the United States, the most common form of heart disease is called coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is often responsible for serious cardiovascular events like a heart attack, heart failure, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia. * *www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/heart-healthy-habits-for- seniors.aspx

12. What are the major risk factors for heart disease? High blood pressure Diabetes Chronic kidney disease Poor cholesterol levels. This means having high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL)

13. WHAT CAN YOU DO HELP CONTROL AND PREVENT HEART DISEASE?

14. MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT Being overweight or obese can put undo stress on your heart. If you are struggling with your weight, talk to your doctor about starting a weight loss regimen that is right for you.

15. EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET Be sure to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables! Limit foods that are high in saturated fats, salt, and bad cholesterol, such as fatty meats. If you have diabetes, avoid foods that are high in sugar. Avoid or eliminate alcohol whenever possible.

16. QUIT SMOKING! Smoking makes you 2 to 4 times more likely than a non-smoker to have heart disease or a stroke. It narrows blood vessels, causes your blood pressure to go up and can cause dangerous blood clots to form.

17. QUIT SMOKING! Quitting smoking can help reduce your risk for other diseases too. Talk to your doctor today if you need help quitting!

18. MONITOR YOUR CHOLESTEROL Cholesterol comes from your body and food. Your doctor can do simple, routine testing to check your cholesterol and help protect your heart. Keep your regular appointments and follow his/her advice for your personal care plan, including taking your medication if prescribed, staying active and eating healthier foods.

19. KEEP YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHECK High blood pressure cannot only damage your heart and arteries, it can also damage your kidneys and even your brain! Be sure to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis and be diligent about following any medication regimen your doctor has prescribed for you.

20. MANAGE YOUR DIABETES PROPERLY Diabetes, or having high blood sugar, is one of the most common health issues that raises your risk for heart disease and stroke. Be sure to talk to your doctor regularly about managing your diabetes properly.

21. EXERCISE!! It is important to try to get atleast 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Not only can exercise help you stay healthy, manage your weight, and control help health problems, it can reduce stress, which is an important component to maintaining a healthy heart.

22. Know the symptoms of a heart attack! 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