February is American Heart Month! While we celebrate love this month, we also need to be aware of our hearts’ health. Heart disease is a very serious condition; it is the leading cause of death in the United States!* The good news is, there are ways to limit your risk for this disease by making sure you are living a healthy lifestyle.
We hope to spread awareness of the risks and effects associated with heart disease so we will be sharing information and tips about heart health with you over the course of this month. We encourage you to spread the awareness to your friends and loved ones as well.
One way you can do this is by celebrating National Wear Red Day® this Friday, February 6. (National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.) Check out these sites for some ways to celebrate this event: HeartTruth – Wear Red Toolkit, How to Celebrate National Wear Red Day
To start off American Heart Month, here is a featured article from Summit Health:
Avoiding Heart Disease Is Easier Than You Think
From the Providers at Summit Cardiology
With one month of resolutions to live healthier lives under our belt, the providers at Summit Cardiology would like to let you know that avoiding heart disease can be a lot easier than you think. Many of the risk factors are within your control.
- Weight – People who are overweight or obese are at a great risk of developing heart disease. Choosing a heart healthy diet can help you lose weight. Your doctor or a registered dietitian can teach you how to include heart healthy foods on your weekly menu.
- Exercise – Physical activity is important in reducing the risk of heart disease. Moderate activities, like walking, biking, dancing, and even gardening or housework for at least 30 minutes can help your heart. The more physical activity you do, the lower your risk will be.
- Smoking – If you smoke – stop. If you stop smoking, your risk of heart attack drops by 50 percent within one year. After five-years, your risk approaches that of a nonsmoker. Smoking cessation programs are available in many areas to help smokers make the transition.
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar or diabetes – These factors can be controlled by diet and exercise, and by medication.
More tips on how to lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes, better portion control, and how to add exercise into your daily routine are available online at SummitHealth.org.
For more information on Summit Health’s cardiology services, visit SummitHealth.org/heart.
Don’t give heart disease any help. Eat healthy, get moving, and talk to your doctor about your risk. Your health is in your hands, and it’s easier than you think.
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