Listen to your heart

Over the years, many songs have been written about the heart — listening to your heart, being true to your heart, and even your cheatin’ heart, to name a few. They may have been written for the listener’s enjoyment, but when it comes to ensuring you have a healthy heart, the first song rings especially true.

According to Dr. Seemal Mumtaz, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Sharp Community Medical Group and affiliated with Sharp Grossmont Hospital, we should listen to our hearts to make sure they’re healthy. This means recognizing the symptoms of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S.

Common heart disease symptoms include the following:

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Heart flutter

• Dizziness

• Swollen legs or ankles

• Temporary loss of consciousness

These symptoms — along with your family’s heart health history — shouldn’t be ignored. If something feels off, especially with your heart, don’t brush it aside, Dr. Mumtaz says.

“Your symptoms can give us important information,” she says. “What may seem like heartburn or a pulled muscle in the shoulder can be an early alarm signal. Early evaluation is always better than waiting. Heart disease diagnosed and treated early can prevent possible permanent damage to the heart.”

Following a heart disease diagnosis

If you receive a heart disease diagnosis, medications are often prescribed, and lifestyle changes are recommended. Dr. Mumtaz advises you to learn about each medication and why it is important to your heart health.

“Some medications are essential to protecting your heart,” she explains. “Understanding what each one does helps ensure you don’t miss doses that could be critical.”

Additionally, it’s helpful to have a family member accompany you to visits with your doctor. This allows the doctor to counsel everyone at the same time and determine which treatment pathway will work best.

“When family members are involved, patients tend to feel more supported and stay on track with their treatment,” Dr. Mumtaz says.

Recommended lifestyle changes

When it comes to lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet and increasing your daily movement, Dr. Mumtaz understands that, for many, such changes are easier said than done.

“Start small and be consistent,” she says. “Even light activity makes a meaningful difference for heart health, especially when you build on it over time. Practice healthy changes that can become lifelong habits.”

Dr. Mumtaz recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week — 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. She also advises families to work together to make healthy lifestyle changes.

“When a household commits to healthier habits, everyone benefits,” she says. “If you live alone, find a friend or walking partner — it can be a pet. Having support keeps you motivated.”

Changes in your diet also play a key role in managing heart disease. Dr. Mumtaz joins the American Heart Association in advising you to eat an “overall healthy dietary pattern.”

This includes a diet that emphasizes the following:

• A wide variety of fruits and vegetables

• Whole grains and products made up mostly of whole grains

• Healthy sources of protein — legumes and nuts, fish and seafood, low-fat or nonfat dairy, and lean and unprocessed meat and poultry

• Liquid nontropical vegetable oils

• Minimally processed foods

• Minimal added sugars

• Foods prepared with little or no salt

• Limited or no alcohol

“Your body often shows subtle signs before a bigger problem develops,” Dr. Mumtaz says. “Paying attention to these and seeking care early can make all the difference. We at Sharp are here to help you and guide you, but you are the one who, as the song says, must listen to your heart.”

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