Print edition: 
Your heart beats about 100,000 times every day, which comes to 35 million times every year. That’s a lot of work for a vital muscle that we often take for granted.
Many people only think about their heart when something goes wrong with it. But now is the time to think about your heart. Heart disease doesn’t happen overnight; it usually develops over years and is influenced by how well you take care of your body every day.
What can I do to reduce my risk?
You can do several things to help prevent heart disease:
• Stop — or never start— smoking. A smoker’s risk of developing coronary heart disease is two to four times that of nonsmokers.
• Choose good nutrition. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, fish, lean protein, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products is the key.
• Aim for a healthy weight. Being more than 30 pounds overweight places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance.
• Reduce blood cholesterol. Fat lodged in your arteries is a disaster waiting to happen. Lower your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, which are higher in items such as fried foods and processed meats. See your doctor for a check of your cholesterol levels.
• Maintain a good blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your heart’s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer.
• Be physically active. You need at least 40 minutes of physical activity every day to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and keep you weight at a healthy level.
• Manage diabetes. At least 65 percent of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
• Limit alcohol use. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high cholesterol, obesity and other factors that affect your cardiovascular system.
What are the symptoms of heart attack?
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. If you experience these symptoms, don’t wait — call 911 immediately!
Go Red for Women
The Go Red For Women Campaign is the American Heart Association’s national campaign to increase awareness of heart disease and inspire women to take charge of their heart health. The color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives.
Every woman should assess her risk of heart disease. You can find out what your cholesterol and blood sugar levels are at the free heart health screenings sponsored by Wesley Medical Center at Meritrust Bank locations on Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 14-16 at the Fireside Room in Wichita State University’s Rhatigan Student Center, and at the Women’s Fair, Feb. 17-19 at Century II Expo Hall. You should not have anything to eat or drink for 10 hours prior to your screening except water and any medications you normally take. Then take the American Heart Association’s Heart Checkup. For more information about the screenings and a link to the AHA Heart Checkup, go to Wesley’s Go Red Facebook site: WesleyHeartHealth.
