Let’s Get Honest about Heart Health

This month, we’ve had fun finding new ways to improve your heart health.

But can we get serious for a minute? A recent survey indicated that 68% of Americans are worried about dying from heart disease, and with good reason. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American adults, with a heart-related death happening every 34 seconds.

Some risk factors for heart disease are:

• Obesity
• Poor diet and nutrition
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Lack of physical activity
• High levels of stress
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Age

Some of these are the results of genetics or your environment, but others are within your control. And, while it may not be easy to adopt every heart healthy tip, you really can improve your longevity and your quality of life by making changes that include managing your blood pressure, eating healthy foods, getting more exercise, managing stress, and breaking unhealthy heart habits.

Over the next two days, we’ll discuss how to assess your personal risk factors and why knowing your family history is so important. And, because it may be time to talk to your doctor about what you need to do now to protect your heart, we’ll be sure you know all of the questions you need to ask your doctor at your next appointment.

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