Scott Bush took several steps to keep his heart in good condition. He ate the right foods, exercised at the YMCA or on his bike every morning and had regular physicals with his family doctor.
But without any warning, Scott died from an atrial fibrillation on Sept. 17, 2006, while participating in the 100-mile Bridge to Bridge cycling ride between Lenoir and Grandfather Mountain.
“It was shocking,” Scott’s wife, Beth, said on Friday. “I think Scott and I felt we would get a warning sign.”
Tonight, at the 37th annual Iredell Heart Ball hosted by the American Heart Association at the Statesville Civic Center, Beth will share how heart disease can impact a family.
The annual event is one of many scheduled during February, which is American Heart Month.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the country and in Iredell County.
“It’s going to be my cause,” said Beth, who co-chaired the event. “I want there to be some fabulous research for (her son) William.”
On Friday, area hospitals participated in the National Wear Red Day to promote how heart disease impacts women. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease causes one in three deaths in women each year.
“I think for so many years heart disease was seen as a man’s disease,” said Susan Hamilton, RN, vice president of Nursing and Patient Care for Iredell Health System. “It wasn’t as obvious.”
With more women working and changing the pace to juggle their professional and home lives, health issues have become more apparent, she said.
Women don’t always feel the crushing chest pains during a heart attack, Hamilton said. They may just get light-headed, tired or sweaty, she said.
Promoting women’s awareness of this health risk is one of the reasons why Iredell Health System’s participates in the national Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Heart Health each year.
This year, the event will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville.
Health officials said patients are more likely to recover if heart conditions are recognized and treated sooner.
“Women are the ones that deny the symptoms,” said Davis Regional Medical Center Education Coordinator Gina Parker. “You need to get help early. Time is muscle.”
Hamilton said doctors and other medical providers are trying to educate patients at a younger age about the effects of obesity or the importance of maintaining health cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
“We should pay attention to what our body feels,” Hamilton said. “I think sometimes we tend to ignore it because we are so busy.”
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