February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. One person dies every 37 seconds 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 in the U.S. being 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.
Almost 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.
Know Your Risk
Knowing your risk is key to prevention. Certain factors can increase your risk, such as smoking, kidney disease or family history. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns for a full assessment of your risks according to the new cardiovascular prevention guidelines.
Prevent Heart Disease
- Choose healthy foods and drinks. Choose healthy meals and snacks to help prevent heart disease and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods. Limit your alcohol intake, which can raise your blood pressure.
- Maintain a healthy weight. People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk for heart disease. Carrying extra weight can put extra stress on the heart and blood vessels.
- Get regular physical activity. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
- Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease.
Take Charge of Your Medical Conditions
- Check your cholesterol. Talk with your health care team about getting screened for high cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, medicines and lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk for heart disease.
- Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) usually has no symptoms, so have it checked on a regular basis. If you have high blood pressure, your health care team might recommend some changes in your lifestyle, such as lowering the sodium in your diet and prescribing medicine to help lower your blood pressure.
- Manage diabetes. If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend certain lifestyle changes to help keep your blood sugar under control. These actions will help reduce your risk for heart disease.
- Take your medications as directed. If you take medicine to treat high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Always ask questions if you don’t understand something. Never stop taking your medicine without first talking to your doctor.
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.