American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. Heart disease can take many other forms, including high blood pressure, valvular heart disease, stroke, or rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease.

A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. Physical activity in your daily life is an important step to preventing heart disease. You can take a few simple steps at home, work and at play to increase the amount of physical activity in your life.

The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk.

The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop heart disease. Some risk factors can be changed, treated, or modified, and some cannot. But by controlling as many risk factors as possible through lifestyle changes, medicines, or both, you can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Diseases and Conditions that Put Your Heart at Risk:

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense; however, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.

Know Your Signs and Symptoms: