February was declared National Heart Month nearly 50 years ago. And for a good reason - heart disease is the number one killer among both men and women in the United States. The American Heart Association has worked hard to bring about awareness especially to women, many of whom believed that heart disease is a "man's disease."
The statistics for heart disease are alarming; every minute, someone's mother, daughter, wife or sister dies from heart disease and stroke in the United States. If 7 fully loaded 747 airplanes crashed every day for an entire year the total number of deaths is still slightly less than the total number of deaths each year caused by heart disease. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer, combined.
The good news is that there are several lifestyle changes you can make that will significantly decrease your risk for developing heart disease. The American Heart Association has identified six risk factors that you should make an effort to control today.
The statistics for heart disease are alarming; every minute, someone's mother, daughter, wife or sister dies from heart disease and stroke in the United States. If 7 fully loaded 747 airplanes crashed every day for an entire year the total number of deaths is still slightly less than the total number of deaths each year caused by heart disease. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer, combined.
The good news is that there are several lifestyle changes you can make that will significantly decrease your risk for developing heart disease. The American Heart Association has identified six risk factors that you should make an effort to control today.
- Smoking - this is the single most preventable cause of death in the U.S. and is a strong predictor of heart disease in women. It certainly is not easy to quit smoking, but it also is not impossible. Consult with your doctor about programs to help you kick the habit.
- Cholesterol levels - high blood cholesterol is a major contributor to both heart disease and stroke. A healthy eating and exercise program can help you lower your levels.
- Blood pressure - this may be even more important than your cholesterol levels and is the most important risk factor for stroke. Again, a healthy eating and exercise program can help you lower your blood pressure.
- Physical inactivity - heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop if you are inactive as compared to those who are more active. Simply put, when you are inactive and do not eat healthy you gain weight, which leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes; all of which increase your risk for heart disease. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- Overweight and obesity - carrying excess weight, especially in your waist area increases your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk for heart disease.
- Diabetes - adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates that are two to four times those of adults without diabetes. People with diabetes often have high blood pressure and cholesterol and are overweight, all of which increase their risk.
