Director's Message February 11, 2022
VAPIHCS Veterans, Among other observances, February is American Heart Month. Heart health might not be something that you think about every day.
Our hearts are always beating in our chest, but we don’t always notice or think about how important they are. This month, I’d like to talk about ways that you can keep your heart healthy.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Take steps today to lower your risk of heart disease:
• Eat healthy: Get plenty of leafy greens and avoid too much red meat.
• Get active: Go for a walk after dinner. Join a gym. Take up a hobby like kayaking or hiking.
• Stay at a healthy weight: Ask your doctor for help if you are unsure of the best way to safely lose weight.
• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke: If you need help, please ask your doctor or utilize our smoking cessation program.
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure: In some cases, you may need medication. Talk to your doctor about what you can do.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation: Remember that drinking often or drinking to excess can damage your body. Avoid alcohol when possible.
• Manage stress: At the VA, we practice Whole Health. Work with your healthcare team to determine what your goals are for your health, and what programs may help you to reach those goals.
What is heart disease?
When people talk about heart disease, they’re usually talking about coronary heart disease (CHD). It’s also sometimes called coronary artery disease (CAD). This is the most common type of heart disease.
When someone has CHD, the coronary arteries (tubes) that take blood to the heart are narrow or blocked. This happens when cholesterol and fatty material, called plaque, build up inside the arteries.
Experts aren’t sure what causes plaque to build up. They think it may happen when your arteries get damaged by too much fat and cholesterol in the blood, high blood pressure, smoking, and too much sugar in the blood leading to diabetes or other health problems. When plaque blocks an artery, it’s hard for blood to flow to the heart. A blocked artery can cause chest pain or a heart attack.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. Part of the heart may die if the person doesn’t get help quickly. Some common signs of a heart attack include: Pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest — or a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness. Pain or discomfort in the upper body — like the arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper stomach (above the belly button.) Shortness of breath or trouble breathing (while resting or being active.) Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up. A stomachache or feeling like you have heartburn. Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or unusually tired. Or, finally, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Not everyone who has a heart attack will have all the signs. Learn more about the signs of a heart attack.
Don’t ignore changes in how you feel.
Signs of a heart attack often come on suddenly. But sometimes, they develop slowly — hours, days, or even weeks before a heart attack happens.
Talk to your doctor if you feel unusually tired for several days, or if you develop any new health problems (like pain or trouble breathing). It's also important to talk to your doctor if existing health issues (like pain) are bothering you more than usual.
If you’ve had a heart attack in the past, it’s important to know that symptoms of a new heart attack might be different from your last one — so talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about how you feel.
Our goal here at the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) is to provide safe, compassionate, quality care to all our Veterans. Heart health is a key part of healthcare, and so we hope you will all take some time to reflect on what you are doing to keep your heart healthy this month.
Get Vaccinated!
In addition to heart health, please remember that we are still battling COVID-19 and the flu. Vaccination remains our best defense against both, and so I urge everyone to get their vaccines as soon as possible. In fact, you can even get your COVID-19 booster and your flu vaccine during the same appointment. Please call today to schedule a time to get up-to-date on your vaccines and make sure that you have all the protection you can get against illness this season: 1-800-214-1306.
This weekend is Superbowl Sunday and Monday is Valentine’s Day – be safe as you celebrate!
One Team, One Ohana!
Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN
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