February is American Heart Month
According to a recent article in American Heart Association News, The number of Americans at risk for heart attacks and strokes just increased. An estimated 103 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, according to new statistics from the American Heart Association. That’s nearly half of all adults in the United States. (https://news.heart.org/more-
“With the aging of the population and increased life expectancy, the prevalence of high blood pressure is expected to continue to increase,” said epidemiologist Dr. Paul Muntner, co-chair of the group that wrote the AHA’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2018 Update, published Wednesday in Circulation.
HealthFinder.gov states that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.
Additionally, only about one in five Americans gets enough exercise.
-Watch your weight
-Don’t Smoke. Smoke exposure contributes to about 34,000 premature heart disease deaths a year, according to the American Heart Association
-Control your numbers…get your Cholesterol and Blood Pressure checked frequently. Take the correct measures to keep your levels in check.
-Drink alcohol in moderation
-Exercise 3-4 days/week for at least 150 minutes of physical activity
-Eat healthy by lowering your sodium and trans-fat intake while eating more fruits and vegetables. Cut down on refined or processed foods.
-Get enough sleep
-Take care of your teeth and gums