Health News
sponsored by VCU Health
Let’s Dance in February!
By: J. Chevonte’ Alexander
Welcome to Urban Views Weekly Health Corner, a bi-monthly article focusing on health issues and giving tips on how we can become healthier individually and as a community.
It’s February, medications and this month is Heart Health Month! You may see folks wearing red all month to recognize and bring awareness to heart disease, which is considered the “silent killer” because it often has no symptoms, or presents pain that is barely noticeable.
Typical heart attack symptoms include:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms.
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
The best thing you can do is be proactive about being healthy and active to keep yourself in the clear.
Dr. Barksdale
Do you remember Diahann Carroll’s character in the TV series Julia? Dr. Debra Barksdale, associate dean of academic programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, says that even though Julia played a nurse, her character inspired her to become a nurse to help make the Black community aware of cardiovascular diseases.
Check out this clip from Julia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwMAr4Vh5ao
During Heart Health Month, Dr. Barksdale encourages us to dance, to start getting healthy and active. In our February 17 column, we chatted with Dr. Barksdale about her transition to Richmond and also about tips we can take to get ourselves healthier. Being active is a great first step to adopting a healthy lifestyle.
“Let’s do some Zumba,” she says. “Let’s move this month and dance. When we move, we feel better and when we feel better we can do other things better.”
Regular exercise is an important way to lower your risk of heart disease. Exercising for 30 minutes or more on most days can help you lose weight, improve your cholesterol, and even lower your blood pressure by as many as five to seven points. Every year, Americans suffer more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes. Nearly 44% of African American men and 48% of African American women have some form of cardiovascular disease that includes heart disease and stroke.
Here are some of the facts:
- Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women worldwide.
- A woman is 10 times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer.
- One in four people will die from heart disease.
One of the most shocking facts, 80 percent of heart disease and stroke events are preventable. Education is key for prevention and advocacy is necessary to help prevent heart disease and stroke.
Did you know 43% of all Americans have cholesterol that is higher than it should be? Forty percent are black women and 37% are black men.
Yes, we know mommy and auntie may have heart problems, but that does not mean the same has to be for you. Let’s break these bad habits in the Black community.
So, let’s take Dr. Barksdale’s advice and dance this month! Dance to your favorite Beyoncé hit or sign up for a local Zumba class. Moving and getting active.
Cheers to a healthy heart and happy life!
