You At Your Best

SPeciAl to you At youR BeSt Keturah White was on duty as a 911 dispatcher in Springdale when she had the first of a series of ischemic strokes over a 24-hour period in 2013. "I showed no symptoms other than a headache," says White, who was 26 at the time. When the strokes began, she was on an emergency line, instructing the caller in CPR. Medical professionals determined that White had been living through mini-strokes and that life-long symptoms such as migraines and a rapidly beating heart were signs of a heart condition. Before that, she knew little about heart disease. Ever since, White has been on a mission to help spread awareness about the importance of heart health, especially in women. And on Feb. 1, which marks the start of American Heart Month, White will begin her duties as an American Heart Association Real Woman volunteer ambassador. Over the next year, she and a class of 19 other women from across the country will be sharing their heart and stroke stories to help drive home the importance of knowing the risk factors and symptoms of heart disease and stroke. White, now 31, is also an American Heart Association spokesman and Grass Roots Action Team member for the region. She also received a national American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Hero Award in Washington, D.C., in 2017. She uses her voice and social media to make others aware that stroke can occur at any age. And as stroke rates rise among younger adults, nearly 1 in 3 don't know the symptoms. The heart association urges the public to use the acronym "F.A.S.T." to remember the warning signs of a stroke: "F" for face drooping; "A" for arm weakness; "S" for speech difficulty; and "T" for time to call 911. Some effects from stroke can linger. Even now, White still notices a slight droop on the left side of her face in photos. The mother of three remains undeterred in her budding career as a fashion model. She has walked the runway at Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week two years running and continues to pose for local ads and promotions. "We're extremely proud of Keturah for taking her health into her hands and for encouraging others to do the same," said Cyd King, the American Heart Association-NWA's communications director. "She's an incredible foot solider in the war on heart disease and stroke, always willing to tell her story so that others may learn the warning signs and take action more quickly." It won't be difficult to find White on social media this American Heart Month, a time the nation turns its attention to keeping families and communities free from heart disease, the No. 1 killer of all Americans. The federally designated month- long celebration reinforces the importance of heart health and the need for more research, with a reminder to get families, friends and communities involved. It's a tradition that's lasted nearly six decades. The first proclamation was issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson in February 1964, nine years after he had a heart attack. Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke combined) kills about 2,300 a day. Obesity in both Bentonville woman raises awareness of HeArt diseAse SPeciAl to you At youR BeSt Palpitations of the heart or uncomfortable sensations in the chest can be distressing. Thoughts of heart attack may come to mind, and that anxiety can only exacerbate the situation. While heart attack might be the first thing people think of when experiencing chest discomfort, atrial fibrillation may be to blame for such feelings. Atrial fibrillation, also called AFib, is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that may lead to heart-related complications. The American Heart Association says that at least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib. Although treatable, without proper diagnosis, AFib may lead to blood clots, stroke and even heart failure. Many people with AFib experience no symptoms at all and are unaware they have it until it is discovered during a physical examination. For those who experience symptoms, The Mayo Clinic lists these as some of the more common: • Palpitations, which can be sensations of a flip-flopping in the chest or even a racing feeling. • Fatigue • Reduced ability to exercise • Lightheadedness • Chest pain or shortness of breath • Dizziness and weakness When the heart is working normally, it contracts and relaxes in a beat. When a person has AFib, the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria, beat irregularly. They quiver and do not move the blood into the ventricles in an effective manner. This irregularity can cause pooling or clotting of blood. Should a clot break off and enter the bloodstream, particularly in an artery leading to the brain, stroke may occur. A proper diagnosis from a physician is needed before treatment can begin. An examination may include an EKG or ECG, which will show the heart's electrical activity as line tracings on paper. The spikes and dips in the tracings are called waves. An EKG will determine if the heart is pumping correctly. AFib is more common among people with clogged arteries or diabetes and may develop following valve surgery. AFib also is more common in people with coronary heart disease. As a person ages, his or her risk for AFib increases. Stress also can be a major factor in triggering AFib, according to www.StopAfib.org. Once AFib is diagnosed, managing risk factors and restoring a heart to normal rhythm becomes the priority. Doctors use a variety of medications to control heart rate, which may include beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Medications to prevent stroke also may be prescribed. Surgical intervention may be necessary if medications aren't working. Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition that requires treatment. Episodes can be managed and treated to help people live healthier lives. signs of atrial fibrillation - and how to treat it 6 | yOu aT yOur beST | nWadg.COm/yOuaTyOurbeST February - HaPPy HearT | Sunday, January 31, 2021

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