Dr Oz: Heart Attack Triggers & How Plants Prevent Indoor Pollution

Dr Oz: Star Jones Go Red

As a cardiologist, Dr Oz wanted you to know the surprising heart attack triggers you might not have been aware of. To discuss this topic, he invited media personality Star Jones to join him. Learn how traffic, shoveling snow, and other everyday issues can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Star Jones said she is the face of the Go Red movement on behalf of the American Heart Association. “Your heart health is the most important thing, your most valuable asset,” she said. Jones keeps her heart healthy by focusing on a healthy diet and exercise.

Jones has kept off 150 pounds over the past decade, proving that she is healthier at 51 than she was at age 31. But she may not be the only one in this scenario, and Dr Oz said that stress management is key.

Dr Oz: Star Jones PMS

Star Jones explained how she uses PMS to keep herself on the right track.

• P – Physical Well Being
• M – Mental Health
• S – Support System

Make sure you are surrounded by people who will foster your passions and support you. Jones said she is proud to work with the National Association of Professional Women, where members want to see one another succeed.

Dr Oz: Surprising Heart Attack Triggers

She now said that she does not have time to be stressed, because she is busy pursuing the things she loves. Dr Oz walked Star Jones through some of the surprising heart attack triggers you might not have considered.

Dr Oz: Traffic Heart Attack Trigger

What happens when you hit construction or congested traffic while you are on your way to work or an appointment? Star Jones said she tries not to be a back seat driver. But Dr Oz said that tension puts stress on your heart, and gas fumes are also bad for your health.

Dr Oz said he cannot deal with traffic. He also said that faster heartbeats and high blood pressure contribute to stress behind the wheel. Did you know that eight percent of heart attacks are related to traffic, and they bother women more than men.

Here is how to work against this:

1. Roll up the window.
2. Turn on the radio.
3. Sing along to lower stress.

Dr Oz: Shoveling Snow Heart Attack Trigger

Star Jones is not one to shovel snow, but Dr Oz said that this is another surprising heart attack trigger. It’s not just the exertion of shoveling the driveway that can cause you to have a heart attack.

Doctor Oz said that cold weather constricts the arteries, setting up conditions for a heart issue. 53% more heart attacks occur in the winter than in the summer, which is why cardiologists like Dr Oz have trouble taking winter vacations.

Dr Oz: Early Heart Attack Symptoms

Star and Dr Oz also said that you should not quickly switch between activities in cold weather. Constricted arteries raise the blood pressure, and it can cause plaques to rip and scab.

“Listen to your body,” Dr Oz said. Star Jones had heart palpitations and shortness of breath when she had her incident. She did not know that these were early warning symptoms of a heart attack.

Jones said that women are caretakers, and that means they are likely to ignore symptoms because they are busy juggling other priorities.

Dr Oz: Plants Prevent Indoor Pollution

Did you know that pollution inside the house could be putting you at risk for heart attacks? Furniture, cleaning chemicals, ventilation, and other decor can increase the risk for heart problems.

Add air filtering plants to your house, especially in the winter. Try bamboo, ferns, or snake plant (sometimes called mother-in-law’s tongue) to help naturally filter the air in your home.

Dr Oz: Eating Big Meals

Another heart attack trigger is eating big meals, which can quadruple your heart disease risk. Hormonal surges and rising blood pressure are the consequences, even a couple hours after eating a heavy meal.

Star Jones told Dr Oz that learning portion control was key for her after weight loss surgery and heart surgery. Her advice was to use a smaller plate, about 10”.