Greyhounds team up against heart disease

Written by: Amanda Farhat '11

        The month of February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer in America, and a lot of people don’t even know it’s happening when they have a heart attack.
        Eaton Rapids High School teamed up with the American Heart Association during Spirit Week and sold t-shirts to raise money for the organization.

        It’s important to know your own personal risks and signs of a heart attack so you’re prepared if it happens to you. Heart attacks aren’t exactly like we see on TV and in the movies; sometimes they are that dramatic but more often than not they begin mildly.
        Some signs of a heart attack include chest pain, discomfort in areas of the body such as arms, neck, and back, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, and lightheadedness.
       Warning signs of a stroke include numbness or weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking and understanding, trouble seeing, loss of balance and coordination, and severe headache. Many people who suffer from a heart attack or stroke don’t know it’s happening to them because they don’t recognize the signs. Early treatment is the key for minimizing potentially devastating effects of a heart attack and stroke.
        As teenagers, we do not often think that a heart attack can happen to people our age, and while it is rare, it certainly can happen. The American Heart Association recommends to people in their twenties that they should check their family history of heart disease, don’t smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke, choose birth control carefully, and drink in moderation.
        Your twenties may seem far away when you’re in high school, but they’ll sneak up on you faster than you think, and it’s essential to start educating yourself now about the risks you can choose to take or not.
        Heart attacks and strokes do not happen to just the elderly, and if you don’t learn about them now, you could suffer for it later.
        During Spirit Week, Mr. Smith and Mr. Warriner sold t-shirts in their classrooms to support the causes of the American Heart Association. The sales resulted in about $1,800 dollars, which is incredibly successful. Students who bought the shirts know that their $10 dollars went to a great cause and that joining together as a school has helped raise a substantial amount for an organization that has saved the lives of many people.
        Mrs. Surato, an ERHS staff member who largely organized the t shirt sale on her own, has been personally touched by the American Heart Association.
        “I am very thankful for the American Heart Association because without them my mother wouldn’t be alive. They taught me the warning signs for heart attack and stroke by sharing the stories of survivors. Heart attack and stroke are the biggest causes of death in the United States, and yet people still don’t view them as a major threat. I believe the students and staff did a great job participating in the t-shirt sale and has contributed greatly to the goal of spreading awareness and saving lives.”