From the King Street Chronicle: American Heart Month Emphasizes the Importance of Heart Heath

American Heart Month Emphasizes the Importance of Heart Health

by Eleanor Kelleher ’28, Staff Writer

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (US), according to nhlbi.nih.gov.  In response to the widespread impact of heart disease, President Lyndon Baines Johnson declared February as American Heart Month in 1964. The goal of American Heart Month is to bring awareness to heart disease and share ways to prevent it, according to redcross.org.

Heart disease includes a range of conditions that affect the heart, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy, most commonly affecting adults with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  CAD is the most common type of heart disease, which occurs when cholesterol and other substances build up in the arteries, limiting the amount of blood that can reach the heart and leading to blood clots and ultimately resulting in a heart attack. Arrhythmia, however, is an abnormal heart rhythm that prevents the heart from beating in a coordinated way, disrupting its ability to pump blood effectively. Cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle is thick or stiff, making it more difficult to pump blood properly, according to my.clevelandclinic.org. 

Although heart disease primarily affects adults, children can also experience heart defects known as congenital heart disease (CHD). A CHD is a congenital heart defect that refers to a structural problem of the heart present at birth. Each year, approximately 40,000 babies in the US are born with CHDs.  Genetic factors and maternal conditions most commonly cause CHDs. A baby is three times more likely to have a CHD if the mother, father, or a sibling has a CHD, according to childrensheartfoundation.org. CHDs affect the way blood pumps through the heart, according to mayoclinic.org. A CHD can include holes in the inside of the walls of the heart, narrow or leaky valves, and, in more severe cases, blood vessels or heart chambers can be missing, according to childrensheartfoundation.org. CHDs affect neurodevelopment of children and cause poor circulation and fatigue, according to childrens.com.

Dr. Nicole J. Sutton, MD, graduated from Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan, New York in 1990. 
Dr. Sutton is a pediatric cardiologist taking care of babies, children, and teenagers with heart conditions. 
She serves as the Director of Invasive Cardiology, Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Co-Director of the Pediatric Heart Center, and the Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Montefiore. Dr. Sutton shared what her work entails as a pediatric cardiologist. 

“I help diagnose and treat heart problems in kids,” Dr. Sutton said. “I see patients in the clinic, read heart tests like echocardiograms, and care for children in the hospital. I also perform interventions in the cardiac catheterization lab, where I use specialized tools to fix certain heart problems without the need for open-heart surgery. I work closely with other doctors, nurses, and staff to decide on the best care, and I spend a lot of time teaching families about their child’s heart condition and how to keep their heart healthy.” 

Unlike many forms of heart disease, CHDs are not preventable. Therefore, spreading awareness for all types of heart conditions helps to better understand the steps to a healthier heart. When the heart is not working properly, it is difficult for the body to circulate blood, oxygen, and nutrients, affecting overall body function, according to my.clevelandclinic.org. Heart diseases can lead to greater complications such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, peripheral artery disease, and sudden cardiac arrest, according to mayoclinic.org. Living a healthy lifestyle is the foremost way to prevent heart disease. Physical activity, eating healthier foods, getting enough sleep, not smoking, and finding healthy ways to reduce stress can help prevent heart disease, according to nhlbi.nih.gov. Dr. Sutton discussed why heart health awareness is important.

“Heart health awareness is important because the habits we build early in life have a big impact on heart health as we get older,” Dr. Sutton said. “Eating a healthy diet and staying physically active help prevent problems like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other forms of heart disease later in life. Even small choices such as being active every day, limiting processed foods, and learning about nutrition—can make a meaningful difference over time. Focusing on heart health early helps set people up for healthier, longer lives.”

Featured Image by Eleanor Kelleher '28

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