February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Over 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year – that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. “Heart disease” refers to several different types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease in the U.S. is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries, affecting the supply of blood to the heart. Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.
Some health conditions, lifestyle choices, age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. About half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.
While you can’t control some risk factors, such as age and family history, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of heart disease.
Preventing Heart Disease:
- Have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly. Your health care provider can determine how often you should be checked based on your risk factors. If you have high cholesterol, medications and lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk for heart disease. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your health care team may recommend strategies to help monitor and improve your blood pressure control. If they prescribe medications, make sure to follow their instructions carefully.
- Manage diabetes. If your health care provider thinks you have symptoms of diabetes, they may recommend you get tested for it. If you have diabetes, talk with your
health care team about treatment options. They may recommend certain lifestyle changes to help keep your blood sugar under control and reduce your chances for heart disease. - Eat a healthy diet. Choose healthful food options that can help you avoid heart disease. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods, and watch how much salt you consume.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your chances for heart disease.
- Be physically active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels. The Surgeon General recommends at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or bicycling, every week for adults. Children and adolescents should get at least one-hour of physical activity every day.
- Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, you can get help to quit here.
- Limit alcohol. Avoid drinking too much alcohol.
For more information about heart health and what you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.