February is American Heart Month

The CDC says February is American Heart Month, making it the time to focus on cardiovascular disease. Experts say this includes: shining a light on hypertension (high blood pressure), a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s National Wear Red Day® is on the first Friday in February. The campaign encourages people to show their support by wearing red and encouraging family, friends and co-workers to do the same.

Focusing on heart disease is important as it is the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women; and the awareness campaign helps people to realize it is largely preventable. Experts stress that every adult should be aware of their risk and know the healthy choices to make to reduce their chance of heart disease including coronary heart disease, which is the primary cause of heart attacks.

The NIH explains your risk of heart disease is higher if you:

Have high blood pressure

Have high blood cholesterol

Are overweight or obese

Have prediabetes or diabetes

Smoke

Do not get regular physical activity

Have a family history of early heart disease (your father or brother was diagnosed before age 55, or your mother or sister was diagnosed before age 65)

Have a history of preeclampsia (a sudden rise in blood pressure and too much protein in the urine during pregnancy)

Have unhealthy eating behavior

Are older (age 55 or older for women or age 45 or older for men)

Experts say for each risk you have, the higher your overall risk is for heart disease. While some risks cannot be helped such as your gender, age and family history, it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider what you can do to reduce your risk. Also the NIH says it can be helpful to join #OurHearts in Action, a group designed to encourage and motivate heart-healthy behaviors together.

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