February reminds us to take care of our heart. Cardiovascular disease is the term for all types of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels, including coronary heart disease (clogged arteries), which can cause heart attacks, stroke, congenital heart defects, and peripheral artery disease. You may think heart disease only affects men. This is not true.
It is American Heart Month. Go Red for Women® is the American Heart Association’s global initiative to end heart disease and stroke in women. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined! Chances are we all know someone affected by heart disease and stroke because cardiovascular disease claims the lives of 1 in 3 women. Friday, February 7th is National Wear Red Day. Wear RED to raise awareness of women’s heart health!
Half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking). Many of the conditions and behaviors that put people at risk for heart disease are appearing at younger ages. Risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, unhealthy eating patterns, family history of early coronary heart disease, and age (for women, 55 and older). It is important to realize, the more risk factors you have, the higher your risk can be, so make sure you talk to your doctor about your complete medical history.
Knowing your numbers is important! You can’t manage what you don’t measure, which is why knowing your risk is critical to preventing cardiovascular disease. Knowing your risk starts with knowing your numbers.
The American Heart Association recommends that you be aware of the five numbers all women should know to determine their risk for developing cardiovascular diseases:
- Total Cholesterol
- HDL (healthy) Cholesterol
- Blood Pressure
- Blood Sugar
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
It’s time for all women to learn the most critical numbers in their life because their hearts depend on it. Talk to your healthcare provider today to learn about your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and BMI (Body Mass Index).
Heart disease is largely preventable. You are in control when it comes to your heart. Here’s what you can do now to reduce your risk:
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Breaking that smoking habit is essential for your overall health. Your risk for a heart attack drops sharply just one year after quitting. After 2 to 5 years, your chance for stroke could fall to about the same as a nonsmoker’s.
- Eat for heart health. Make heart-healthy eating changes. Eat food low in trans-fat, saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium. Try to fill at least half your plate with vegetables and fruits, eat whole grains, and seek low sodium options.
- Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week. The key to heart health is to keep moving and avoid being sedentary. You can even break up the 30 minutes into 10-minute blocks.
- Keep your weight under control. Obesity increases the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and diabetes.
- Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. Work with your health care team to manage conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This includes taking any medicines you have been prescribed.
- Reduce stress. Stress is a strong risk factor for heart disease, especially for women. Try meditation, yoga, or simply being silent and still for 10 minutes a day. Be mindful of stress in your life and take extra care of your heart.
Making heart-healthy lifestyle choices and taking control of your cardiovascular risk factors can help prevent or slow the progression of heart disease. It’s a great time for to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health.
Sources:
- American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute