Heart Health Is Focus of Event at Capitol
February 11, 2005Two days after Americans celebrate Valentine's Day and the emotional health of the heart, lawmakers and visitors to the state Capitol will have a chance to celebrate the heart's physical health as part of "Heart Attack Awareness Day."
The event, to be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Capitol rotunda, is sponsored by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). A heart-healthy buffet lunch for legislators will be served.
"Heart Attack Awareness Day" will also feature exhibits by the American Heart Association, Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, Montana Diabetes Project, Montana Cardiovascular Health Program, and St. Peter's Hospital. The hospital staff will provide free blood pressure screenings and demonstrate the use of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, which use an electric shock to "jump-start" the heart following a cardiac arrest.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Montana and the nation. About 2,700 Montanans died of heart disease in 2003, the latest year for which statistics are available.
Warning signs of a heart attack may include chest pressure or discomfort, discomfort in other parts of the upper body (such as the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach), shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and breaking out in a cold sweat. Victims should call 9-1-1 within 5 minutes of the onset of symptoms, according to Crystelle Fogle, with the Cardiovascular Health Program of DPHHS.
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning. Victims lose responsiveness, stop breathing, and show no signs of circulation. Anyone witnessing a cardiac arrest should begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or use a defibrillator immediately.
The month of February is American Heart Month. For more information about heart health, contact Fogle at 406- 947-2344 or cfogle@mt.gov.
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
