Sponsored article from an NJ Cops Magazine Advertiser
Be kind to your heart
The men and women who wear a badge
are often taught to be tough, in control and
on the lookout for the welfare of others.
These are wonderful attributes, but they
can take a toll.
The stress of law enforcement can be
hard on the heart. While February is the
month of love, it’s also Heart Month — a
reminder that we need to take care of our
hearts so that we will be around to cele-
brate many more Valentine’s Days with our
loved ones.
Don’t think that a heart attack can’t hap-
pen to you; working odd shifts, respond-
ing to incidents and crashes and subduing
suspects comes with a physical cost. A Ca-
reerCast survey ranks policing as one of the
most stressful jobs in the U.S., while anoth-
er study found that the risk of suffering a
heart attack escalates by 70 percent during
dangerous activities like:
• Altercations/suspect restraining
• Pursuits
• Physical training
• Rescue operations
It’s estimated that sudden cardiac deaths
account for 10 percent of all on-duty U.S.
police deaths. The study concluded that
76
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ FEBRUARY 2019
law enforcement agencies need to do more
to promote fitness and health programs to
reduce officers’ risk of heart attacks.
Warning signs
So, what are the warning signs and risk
factors? The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention says these are the three ma-
jor risk factors for heart disease:
1. High blood pressure
2. High LDL cholesterol
3. Smoking
These other medical conditions and life-
style choices also put people at a higher
risk:
• Diabetes
• Obesity and being overweight
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol use
Pay attention to these primary warning
signs of a heart attack:
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Upper body pain or discomfort in
the arms, back, neck, jaw or upper
stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, lightheadedness or cold
sweats
And women are not immune to heart
disease. While the incident rates of
heart-related deaths have declined steadi-
ly for men, the rates for women have fallen
more slowly.
Recommendations
An article on Officer.com discussed the
risk of heart attacks for law enforcement
officers and offered these prevention tips:
• Quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy cholesterol level
and know your number
• Control blood pressure
• Do regular exercise
• Get adequate sleep
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Improve your diet
• Manage stress
• Use aspirin therapy
• Reduce alcohol intake
Taking steps now to reduce the stress
on your cardiovascular system can make a
world of difference for you and your family.
This article was furnished by California
Casualty, serving law enforcement officers
since 1969 and providing auto and home
insurance to NJSPBA members. Learn more
or get a quote at www.calcas.com/njspba.