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February is synonymous with love. It brings thoughts of hearts and roses, of cupid and his arrow. Cartoonish, bubble-shaped hearts are plastered at practically every retail store across the country. It’s hard to avoid being drawn into it all. Not everyone looks forward to February, though. For some, it’s a painful reminder of those lost to an unhealthy heart. Instead of a celebration of love with roses, they remember a celebration of life with lilies. Dramatic? Yes. Farfetched? Sadly, not at all. February provides another logical opportunity to renew your vow to be heart healthy – all the better if your resolutions for the new year include health-related commitments. If you haven’t made that vow, now is the perfect time to start.
Did you know that 1 in every 4 deaths is related to heart disease? Information on heart disease and heart health is readily available by trust-worthy sources online. The American Heart Association (AHA), The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are just a few of those resources. You can find out more at AHA (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/); CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm) or NHLBI (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/).
Learning the facts can help us understand our own risk for heart disease, how to reduce it and how to respond in the event of an emergency. Get to know the facts. Get to know your risks and start working on ways to reduce them and you’ll be on your way to becoming heart healthy. According to CDC, in the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack. Lifestyle changes and in some cases, medication, can greatly reduce your risk for CAD. Here’s what you need to know:
A Few Facts About Heart Disease in the United States
Early action is important. Know the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack and act fast if you or someone you know might be having a heart attack. The chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly.
Heart attacks have several major warning signs and symptoms:
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors.5
Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including:
While heart disease does not always lead to death, it often does affect a person’s quality of life. Family, health, friends, leisure time, self-fulfillment, financial means and material well-being are all important aspects of life that may suffer. Those with heart disease often experience anxiety and depression. It’s understandable how that can be. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can make changes… we can start small and work through the challenges one day at a time. In light of the significant changes required after the fact, a few preemptive changes seem well worth the effort – before it’s too late. It just makes sense, doesn’t it? As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is the time to renew your vow for heart health 2017. We can do this. For our families. For our friends. For ourselves. We’re all in this together!
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