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Do you have questions or need services for senior adults? Call the Aging Experts for In-Home Services • Senior Activity Centers Long Term Care Ombudsman • Home Delivered Meals Family Caregiver Assistance • Incontinence Supplies Personal Emergency Response System Care Coordination • Housing Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas Benton County Branch Offi ce 1410 SE 14th Street • Bentonville, Arkansas 479-273-9424 or 888-286-3610 www.aaanwar.org AAANWA complies with EO and CR regulations. Senior Health Fair The Weekly Vista Wednesday, September 13, 2017 F 19C Exercise and women's health According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each week women who are 65 years or older, are generally fit and have no limiting health conditions should combine at least two days of muscle- strengthening exercises with at least two hours and 30 minutes of moder- ate-intensity aerobic activity. Women capable of more strenuous cardiovascular activity can substitute one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity with their two-and- a-half hours per week of more mod - erate-intensity exercise. The CDC notes that distinguishing between moderate-intensity exercise and vig- orous-intensity exercise is pretty sim- ple. Women can use a 10-point scale in which sitting is zero and working as hard as is physically possible is 10. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity will make women breathe harder and elevate their heart rates, but should not make them feel completely drained at the end of a workout. These activities will register as a five or six on the 10-point scale. Vigorous-intensity aerobic activity includes those exercises that wom - en would deem a seven or eight on the 10-point scale. Such activities should elevate the heart rate con- siderably and get women breathing hard enough that they will be unable to say more than a few words without pausing to catch their breath. No two women are the same and age must be considered when devel- oping a healthy exercise regimen, but brisk walking may qualify as moder- ate-intensity aerobic activity while jogging or running would be consid- ered a vigorous-intensity activity. Metro Creative AFib Signs of atrial fibrillation and how to treat it Palpitations of the heart or uncom- fortable 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 experienc - ing 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 complica - tions. The American Heart Association says that at least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib. Although treat- able, 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 sensa - tions 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 cham - bers 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 physi- cian is needed before treatment can begin. An examination may include an EKG or ECG, which will show the heart's electrical activity as line trac- ings 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 peo- ple 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 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 med- ications aren't working. Metro Creative