- A weak or numb feeling on one side of the face or body
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, stomach, and neck
- Fluttering in the chest, heart “skipping a beat”, or beating too hard
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Seven Ways To Prevent Heart Disease/Attack
- Know your blood pressure and keep it under control. This includes regular check-ups and adherence to healthy eating and medication as provided by your physician.
- Exercise regularly. Daily walks of 15-20 min or more can help keep your heart healthy and strong.
- Don’t smoke or quit smoking. Smoking can narrow the blood vessels and restrict lung capacity. These things can cause stress on the heart.
- Get tested for diabetes and, if you have it, keep it under control. Excessive sugar in the bloodstream can cause the narrowing and blockage of blood vessels.
- Know your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and keep them under control. As mentioned, cholesterol is a fat that can clog and block the arteries, causing a heart attack.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Meats can be high in cholesterol while fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars, vitamins, and other nutrients that can help flush the body of toxic agents.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can lead to a myriad of health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the potential of getting these illnesses.
BDO’s Black History of Health series is designed to show the correlation between the health of historical Black figures and Black Americans today. Many of the health disparities we currently experience have been in our community for centuries. This series is meant to bring these conditions to the forefront and provide blacks with preventative and management steps to reduce these disparities and improve the overall health of the Black American community. It’s time to change the narrative.