While February is the month to express the feelings from your heart, the American Heart Association also asks us to think about heart health during American Heart Month.

The four primary risk factors for heart disease are high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. If you do not know your cholesterol levels or have not been tested in years, we encourage you to have your total lipid profile done. At Taos Pharmacy, this low-cost test takes about 25 minutes to get your results and can warn you of potential problems before you experience symptoms or even a heart attack. The test includes a consultation and communication to your primary care physician. All tests at Taos Pharmacy are available by appointment and without an order from your physician. We also take your blood pressure and pulse rate. If you do not know your average blood pressure, we encourage you to come in to have it measured. We encourage all smokers to quit. We sell smoking cessation aids such as nicotine gum and patches. We also offer smoking cessation consultation to help address both the nicotine addiction and the habit of smoking. People with diabetes are encouraged to monitor their blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels regularly. We provide monitoring and consultation for patients with diabetes. People with more than one of the above risk factors are encouraged to begin a monitoring and control program immediately to reduce their risk of heart disease.

Other risk factors of heart disease are being studied. Inflammation appears to contribute to atherosclerosis. Elevated blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, has been associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Increasing omega-3 fatty acids in the diet can reduce inflammation. Omega-3 oils are found in salmon, sardines, and flax seed oil. Vitamins C, E, carotene, and selenium are good anti-oxidants. Daily aspirin therapy not only reducing blood clotting but is anti-inflammatory. Relaxation techniques can reduce stress related inflammation.

Syndrome X is a group of symptoms related to insulin resistance. High triglycerides, low HDL, high blood glucose, excess weight carried in the abdomen, and high blood pressure are signs and symptoms of Syndrome X. The key is to reduce insulin resistance through regular exercise, getting more omega-3 oils in the diet, eating whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits as your carbohydrate sources.

High levels of homocysteine are also associated with heart attack and stroke. Adequate levels of vitamins B-6, B-12, and folic acid help to break down homocysteine.

High normal blood pressure, defined as 130-139 over 85-89, results in twice the risk of heart attack or stroke compared to normal, 129 or below over 84 or lower. It is important to know your blood pressure; many people with elevated blood pressure do not know they have it. Again, regular exercise, ideal weight, relaxation, not smoking, and anti-oxidants help control blood pressure.

Emotional stress, including depression and a quick temper, raise the risk of heart disease. Treatment for depression and relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, and yoga can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Taos Pharmacy is your local resource for heart healthy advice and products. Please call us for information that will help you reduce your risk of heart disease.

Reference: Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, February 2002.

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