RELATED: How to Get Involved in Heart Health Awareness Month This Heart Month has seen even more focus on prioritizing heart health, not only because heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, but also as experts begin to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with cardiovascular disease. Teaming up with Lipton Tea, the Singing Surgeons released their second EP, Put a Little Love in Your Heart, this February, to inspire people to take care of their hearts in easy, accessible ways. The album includes four tracks featuring “heart” in the title: “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” by Jackie DeShannon, “Listen to Your Heart,” by Roxette, “You’ll Be in My Heart,” by Phil Collins, and “Heartbeat Song,” by Kelly Clarkson. The EP is available on all major music streaming platforms; you can listen to it or download it here. The surgeons intentionally chose inspirational songs that also struck a chord with them personally. “All the songs have meaning in my life,” Dr. Francois says. For example, he loved listening to Collins’s “You’ll Be in My Heart,” featured in Disney’s Tarzan, as a kid. Francois’s family also has a history of heart disease. “My grandmother died of heart disease, so this project was a no-brainer and a dream come true. I believe music has its greatest impact when it has a meaning behind it, and it’s an honor to be able to share this meaning.” The two orthopedic surgeons have been sharing messages of hope through music since their cover of “Imagine,” posted on Instagram from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, went viral. Their first EP, Music Is Medicine, followed soon after, sold as a benefit for COVID-19 relief. Next came appearances on talk shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, a spot on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart, and for Francois, a performance on The Masked Singer. “We could never have imagined this past year,” he says. “It’s been an incredibly humbling experience.” Although Francois never aspired to sing professionally, music has always been a part of his life. He grew up singing in church, and uses music to de-stress after his 80- to 100-hour workweek as a spine surgery fellow at Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Music also features in his day-to-day surgeries: “Ninety percent of operating theaters play music during surgery! I like listening to Motown, classic rock, and Frank Sinatra, or something more soothing for a technically demanding surgery. Music is the heartbeat through the hospital.” Not surprisingly, the Singing Surgeons frequently receive song requests from patients, from Stevie Wonder to Disney hits. Francois recounts one moment on the pediatric floor, when a 4-year-old girl requested a song from Frozen. “I didn’t know the words! I couldn’t sing it for her and she burst into tears.” He has since learned all the Frozen lyrics. Other musical moments are also particularly meaningful for the surgeon, like performing at a wedding for a couple, one of whom was facing a terminal diagnosis. “There were eight of us in the ICU. It was hard to keep it together. For me, being a part of that was the highest honor.” For the Singing Surgeons, the value of sharing music is not about performing for thousands or earning national recognition. Rather, it’s about music’s power to bring joy, comfort, and hope, even in the smallest and most intimate ways. “I always say medicine is for the body and music is for the soul,” says Francois. Between treating patients and making music, Francois also tries to prioritize his own heart health. “Our hearts do a lot of good for us. What can we do for our hearts?” The doctor notes simple steps people can take to keep their hearts healthy: “[Regular] exercise, a good night’s rest, avoiding things high in sodium. Stay hydrated and drink green and black tea. It’s also always important to keep connected with your primary care physician.” Blood pressure High blood pressure can put you at risk for heart disease and stroke. If your blood pressure is below 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), the AHA recommends that you check it at least once every two years, starting at age 20. If your blood pressure is higher, you may have to get it checked more frequently. Cholesterol The AHA advises measuring your cholesterol every four to six years, starting at age 20. High cholesterol can raise your risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. Your doctor may advise more frequent cholesterol tests in middle age, because that’s when your overall risk for heart disease starts to rise. Blood glucose High blood sugar increases your risk of developing insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, which can lead to serious heart problems. If you’re overweight and you have at least one other cardiovascular risk factor, your doctor may recommend a blood glucose test, per the AHA. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that everyone begin screening for diabetes at age 45. BMI Body mass index (BMI) is calculated using your height and weight, and can help determine whether you’re at a healthy body weight and composition. Being overweight or obese can raise your risk for heart disease, notes the AHA.
Other Types of Heart Screenings
Your doctor may advise other screening tests if you’re at increased risk for heart disease or experiencing heart-related symptoms. Risk factors include high blood pressure, family history, high cholesterol, a history of smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and an elevated BMI. Your doctor may advise one or more of the following tests: Stress tests, also called exercise stress tests, indicate how your heart handles work, according to the AHA. Some stress tests use a treadmill or bike; others use an injected drug to chemically lead to a stressed heart, according to the Mayo Clinic. Electrocardiogram (ECG) measures your heart’s electrical activity, providing “a snapshot in time of the conduction system of the heart,” says Nicholas Ruthmann, MD, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “It can show evidence of an acute injury to the heart, electrical conduction issues with the heart, or even an old heart attack.” Echocardiogram uses an ultrasound machine to produce images of your heart, allowing your doctor to detect any problem with your heart’s structure or function, according to the AHA. Coronary artery calcium test (CAC test) is performed as part of a CT scan. It provides pictures of your heart that can help your doctor detect plaque inside your arteries, notes the AHA. Cardiac catheterization (also called a “heart cath”) examines how well your heart is working, according to the AHA. A catheter is inserted into a large blood vessel that leads to your heart. Coronary angiography is performed during the procedure to detect narrowing or blockage of the arteries supplying blood to the heart.
More Ways to Prevent Heart Disease
According to MedlinePlus, additional tips to prevent heart disease include:
Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains and limits saturated fats and added sugars. Diets like the DASH diet can help you lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.Reduce stress, which can raise blood pressure and trigger a heart attack.If you smoke, quit. Smoking raises your blood pressure and increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Consuming too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and cause weight gain. Men should have no more than two drinks per day, and women should not have more than one.
Heart Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Deaths from cardiovascular issues spiked in parts of the country that were hit earliest by the pandemic, and it is believed that some people chose to delay or not seek care during medical emergencies for fear of contracting COVID-19. While this fear is understandable, Dr. Ruthmann emphasizes that not seeking care for active symptoms of heart disease could be as deadly. “If you’re having active symptoms, I can’t stress enough the importance of seeking medical care. Our healthcare teams are well-trained and all health organizations are strictly practicing social distancing and other efforts to minimize COVID-19 transmission.” He adds, “I always tell my patients, ‘If you feel something, say something.’"
