February is National Heart Month

February is National Heart Month. The American Heart Association reports this annual awareness initiative provides an opportunity to highlight the warning signs and symptoms of heart disease and heart attacks, and commit to a lifestyle that improves overall heart health. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death, responsible for an estimated 17 million deaths every year in the world. In the United States, cardiovascular disease is listed as the underlying cause of death in 840,678 deaths, which is about 1 out of every 3. At least 48 percent of all U.S. adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and high blood pressure. However, anyone can be at risk for heart disease. More and more, our sedentary lifestyles are putting us at risk at a younger age. Obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking all increase our risk factors. So the American Heart Association encourages everyone to get moving, remove stress, quit smoking, and eat healthier. Each one of those things can lower our risk. Even small changes help make a difference. Reduce the amount of fast food. Eat more greens. Take the stairs. Walk the kids to school. Go outside and play with the kids or walk the dog. Talk to your physician about your risk factors. Millions of people in the United States have high blood pressure and millions of them are as young as 40 or 50. If you are one of them, talk to your doctor about ways to control it. High cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity are all conditions that can increase your risk for heart disease. If you fall into this category, work on eating healthy and getting some physical activity a few times a week. Over 35 million adults in America are smokers and thousands of young people pick up the habit daily. If you’re a smoker, do your best to quit or cut down.