Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas employees wear their hearts on their sleeves — and their Heart Walk team T-shirts. Photo courtesy of AECC.
Category: Editor's Welcome

Valentine’s Day was several months ago, still the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas remain very focused on hearts.

Employees recently raised more than $4,700 for the American Heart Association (AHA). Despite a “heart-y” rainstorm on April 29 that led to the 2023 AHA Heart Walk’s cancellation, a group of employees was set to wear team T-shirts and participate in memory of Chad Reed, a colleague who recently passed away.

Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas employees wear their hearts on their sleeves — and their Heart Walk team T-shirts. Photo courtesy of AECC.

In May, I was blessed to attend the AHA’s 2023 Central Arkansas Go Red for Women luncheon, where warrior women — inspirational survivors of different ages and races — shared their stories to raise awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of both men and women in America.

Here is information from the AHA that everyone should know:

Heart Attack Symptoms

Don’t wait to get help if you experience any heart attack warning signs. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but others start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body, and call 911 if you experience:

  • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women may experience other symptoms that are typically less associated with heart attack, such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

While some heart attack risks, like age and family history, cannot be changed, others can. The AHA identifies smoking/vaping, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity/being overweight, diabetes, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol and diet/nutrition as factors that we have a role in managing.

And the June issue is here to help you get started! Enjoy some nutritious Arkansas blackberries (A Vine Time for Blackberries) and tomatoes (Here Today, Gone Tomorrow). Visit any of our 52 amazing Arkansas State Parks (Quite a Hike). De-stress by doing the Crossword Puzzle or attend fun events in our Calendar.

Have a happy, healthy start to summer!

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