By Staff
DOWAGIAC – It's that time of the year again.
Thousands of people get up at the crack of dawn during firearm deer season to hunt down that big buck. And every year, media reports include stories of hunters suffering heart attacks while in the woods.
If you're not prepared, haven't had a physical and haven't exercised much in the year since the last hunt, you may be putting yourself at a risk of a heart attack.
"A recent study compared the heart workload of an individual while deer hunting to that of the same individual while exercising on a treadmill on a different day, said Robert LaPenna, MD, of Borgess Cardiology Group. "Deer hunting puts the heart under more strain."
Hunters, who have not been to their doctor in the year since the last hunt, should take this opportunity to get a checkup.
"If you're planning to hunt," Dr. LaPenna said, "it makes sense to first see your doctor, perhaps having a stress test."
Smoking is another major risk factor for heart attack and heart disease. Other tips include avoiding a heavy breakfast before heading out into the woods and avoiding hunting alone.
Bring a cell phone to reach emergency services if needed and tell friends or family your location and scheduled return.
Preparing early will not only help with physical fitness come deer season, but also with overall general health. Studies show that being physically fit lowers heart disease risk even in people who have other risk factors like high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
Warning signs of a heart attack are an 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 again. Also, the pain spreads to the shoulders, neck and arms and is often accompanied by lightheadedness, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath.
Stroke is also a concern while hunting and its warning signs include a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, and a sudden dizziness and loss of coordination.Both heart attack and stroke are medical emergencies and 911 needs to be accessed immediately.
The American Heart Association has a new series of online tools that can encourage conditioning. The Start! program is a new initiative for the American Heart Association in which tools are provided to businesses and individuals to get America walking for health.
The Southwestern Michigan Start! sponsor is Borgess Health and the focus of Start! is simple – Walk more.
Eat well. Live Longer. Studies have shown that walking is good medicine for the heart. In fact it's great medicine. For every hour of regular, vigorous exercise, like brisk walking, one can expect two hours will be added to their life expectancy.
There are extensive Web tools are available at www.american-heart.org/start, a break-through online resource that motivates users by connecting them to experts, related health and nutrition information, and virtual teams, and by providing an interactive and customized experience.
Or, for more information on Start! you may also call (800) AHA-USA1.