February Theme: Heart Care Awareness Month

Stronger Hearts. Stronger Families. Stronger Unions.

For union members and their families, the heart is more than a medical topic—it’s the engine behind every shift worked, every child raised, every retirement enjoyed, and every community served. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., but here’s the part that matters most: a large share of heart-related illness is preventable, treatable, or survivable when we act early and act fast.

This month is about two things:

1. Proactive heart care — protecting your heart before trouble starts.
2. Reactive heart care — knowing what to do in an emergency, because minutes matter.

And for union leaders, it’s also about creating a culture where members feel supported in using the benefits they’ve earned—primary care visits, screenings, medications, rehab, wellness programs, and emergency readiness.

Proactive Heart Care: The Everyday Decisions That Add Up

Most people think heart problems “happen suddenly.” Sometimes they do. But more often, heart disease builds quietly over years—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, sleep apnea, stress, and inactivity gradually strain the system.

What proactive care looks like in real life

• Know your numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar/A1C, weight, waist circumference
• Move most days: even 20–30 minutes of brisk walking counts
• Eat for the long haul: more fiber, more plants, less ultra-processed foods, less sugary drinks
• Protect sleep: untreated sleep apnea and chronic poor sleep increase heart risk
• Don’t ignore stress: chronic stress affects blood pressure, inflammation, and habits
• Take meds correctly: blood pressure and cholesterol meds only work if taken consistently
• Quit smoking / vaping: the fastest heart-health “upgrade” you can make
• Use your benefits: preventive visits are often covered at low or no cost—use them

Proactive heart care isn’t about perfection. It’s about momentum. If you improve one habit, you make the next one easier.

Annual Exams: Why a Routine Check-Up Can Save Your Life

Your annual exam isn’t “just paperwork.” It’s your early-warning system.

A primary care clinician can:

• Catch high blood pressure before it causes damage (often no symptoms)
• Identify high cholesterol and evaluate overall cardiovascular risk
• Screen for diabetes/prediabetes
• Review family history and work exposures
• Check medications and side effects
• Recommend vaccines, weight support, smoking cessation support, and referrals

Common tests that matter for heart health

• Blood pressure measurement (often the most important)
• Cholesterol/lipid panel
• Blood sugar or A1C
• Sometimes an EKG (based on symptoms/risk)
• For some people: coronary calcium scoring or additional labs, depending on their clinician’s judgment and risk profile

The point of preventive care is simple: find issues when they’re fixable and before they become emergencies.

When Should You See a Cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel conditions. You might be referred to one if you have:

• Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, palpitations
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• High cholesterol plus strong family history or other risks
• Prior heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or abnormal EKG
• Known heart murmur or valve disease
• Persistent swelling in legs, unexplained fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance

What a cardiologist actually does

Cardiologists evaluate your symptoms, risk factors, and test results, then build a plan that may include:

• Lifestyle changes and risk reduction strategy
• Medication management (blood pressure, cholesterol, rhythm, blood thinners)
• Diagnostic testing (echocardiogram, stress testing, Holter monitor)
• Procedures (when needed) or referrals to procedure specialists

They don’t replace your primary care clinician—they work with them to protect your heart.

Different Types of Heart Specialists (Plain English)

Cardiology has several “lanes.” Here are the main ones you’ll hear about:

1) General (Non-Invasive) Cardiologist

Focus: diagnosis and long-term management
Common tools: EKG, echocardiogram, stress tests, monitors
They manage blood pressure, cholesterol, stable coronary disease, heart failure, and more.

2) Interventional Cardiologist

Focus: opening blocked arteries using catheters
Common procedures: angioplasty and stent placement, cardiac catheterization
These are often the specialists involved during or after a heart attack.

3) Electrophysiologist (EP)

Focus: the heart’s electrical system
Treats: atrial fibrillation, abnormal rhythms, fainting related to rhythm issues
Common procedures: ablations, pacemaker/ICD management

4) Heart Failure Cardiologist

Focus: advanced heart failure and complex cases
Manages medications, devices, and coordination of advanced therapies when needed.

5) Cardiothoracic (Heart) Surgeon

Focus: surgical repair
Common surgeries: bypass surgery (CABG), valve repair/replacement, major structural repairs
Surgeons often work alongside cardiologists to determine the best path.

You don’t have to memorize these. Just know: if your doctor refers you, it’s because you’ll benefit from deeper expertise.

Reactive Heart Care: What to Do When It’s Urgent

Here’s the truth: in a heart emergency, you don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of preparation. That’s why every household and every worksite benefits when people know the basics.

Signs of a Heart Attack: Know Them, Act Fast

Heart attack symptoms can vary. Classic symptoms include:

• Chest pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain
• Pain that spreads to arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness
• Unusual fatigue (more common in women)

What to do:

1. Call 911 immediately. Don’t drive yourself if you can avoid it. EMS can start treatment sooner.
2. Chew aspirin (typically 325 mg regular) if you are not allergic and have no contraindication—and only if emergency services advise or if you’ve been instructed by your clinician.
3. Rest and stay calm while waiting.
4. If someone collapses and isn’t breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED if available.

If symptoms are new, severe, or feel “not right,” don’t negotiate with it. Better an unnecessary ER visit than a preventable tragedy.

Signs of Stroke: Use FAST

A stroke is a brain emergency—blood flow is blocked or bleeding occurs. Treatment is time-sensitive.

Use FAST:

• Face drooping: one side droops or feels numb
• Arm weakness: one arm drifts down
• Speech difficulty: slurred or strange speech
• Time to call 911: immediately

Other warning signs:

• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden confusion, trouble seeing, dizziness, or loss of balance

What to do: Call 911. Note the time symptoms started. Do not wait to “see if it passes.”

CPR: A Skill Every Family Should Have

CPR is not just for healthcare workers. It’s for parents, grandparents, teens, coaches, and coworkers—because sudden cardiac arrest often happens at home or in public, and bystander CPR can double or triple survival chances when started quickly.

The basics of Hands-Only CPR

If an adult collapses and isn’t breathing normally:

1. Call 911 (or have someone call).
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest (about 100–120 compressions per minute).
3. Use an AED if available—follow the prompts.

Union halls, worksites, training centers, and benefit events are perfect places to normalize CPR training and AED access. If your local has safety training, adding CPR/AED refreshers is one of the highest-impact moves you can make.

A Message to Union Leaders: Make Heart Health Easy to Use

Benefits don’t help if members can’t access them, don’t understand them, or feel too busy to use them. Heart health improves when leadership supports:

• Preventive care reminders and easy scheduling
• Onsite screenings at events (BP, cholesterol education, wellness resources)
• CPR/AED training opportunities
• Tobacco cessation and weight management programs
• Clear communication about urgent symptoms and what to do

A healthy membership is a stronger membership—less disability, fewer catastrophic claims, more energy, more years with family, and more dignity in retirement.

The Bottom Line: Take the Next Step Today

Heart care isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a pattern—and you can start right now.

Pick one action for this week:

• Schedule your annual physical
• Check your blood pressure (pharmacy kiosks count)
• Take a 20-minute walk after dinner three times this week
• Book a CPR class for you and a family member
• If you’ve had symptoms—don’t wait. Call your doctor.

Your heart has been showing up for you every day. This month, return the favor.