CardioCurrents
News and tips for the heart-conscious

Chest pain = 911
If you have chest pain or discomfort, don’t wait more than five minutes to call for emergency medical help, say new guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. It could be a heart attack, especially if you are also short of breath, sweating excessively or feeling weak, nauseated or light-headed. Speedy treatment—within 20 minutes—is key to survival. Unfortunately, many people (especially women) delay seeking help for two hours or more. Your best bet is to call an ambulance right away so emergency services can start treatment as soon as they arrive.

Chocolate lovers, take heart
Chocolate lovers know how a bit of the candy can sweeten a day, but it may also benefit the heart, suggests a report in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Chocolate contains flavonoids, natural antioxidants that help reduce risk for heart disease, but the key is to eat the flavonoid-rich dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. In a two-week study where participants enjoyed a daily 1.6-ounce chocolate snack, scientists found heart-healthy effects among those who ate the dark chocolate: expanded arteries, greater blood flow and a spike in blood levels of flavonoids. But don’t go stockpiling the Godiva just yet: Because all chocolate is high in calories and saturated fat, eat it only in moderation. Other healthy sources of flavonoids include tea, oat bran, almond skins and blueberries.

Love heals a broken heart
The idea that love mends all wounds may ring true when it comes to heart attacks. Enjoying a close personal relationship with a spouse, relative or friend seems to protect heart attack survivors against future cardiovascular problems, according to a report in the medical journal Heart. British researchers followed more than 1,000 heart attack patients for a year and found those without an intimate partner or confidante were twice as likely to suffer a second cardiac event within the year. While experts know that people with close relationships react to stress in healthier ways, they also suggest that loved ones may encourage patients to take better care of their health.

Did you know?

• One in four adults has high blood pressure.
• More than half of all Americans with chronic diseases don’t follow their doctor’s prescription regarding medication and lifestyle changes.
• Seventy-five percent of Americans live within a two-mile walking distance of a public park, according to the National Recreation and Park Association. Yet almost half of all children in the United States between ages 8 and 16 spend their time indoors watching three to five hours of television a day.