February has been declared American Heart Month; a time when all of us can focus on cardiovascular health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. “Heart disease” can be used globally for multiple heart conditions, but the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, or CAD, which can lead to heart attack. Elevated blood pressure, blood sugars and cholesterol levels can contribute to coronary artery disease and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke significantly. You can greatly reduce your risk by living a healthy lifestyle which includes healthy foods/drinks, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise/physical activity and refraining from smoking. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you might have with any of your Care Coordinators.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Resources for Individuals and Patients
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Should I be measuring my blood pressure?
US Department of Agriculture, Heart Health (Various resources)