written by Isabella Vines
February not only inhabits the holiday of love but the month of hearts. American Heart Month is a time when American citizens are encouraged to focus on prioritizing their cardiovascular health.
This participation is essential as the amount of working-age adults with CVD in the U.S. has increased substantially. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 697 thousand people in the U.S. died from heart disease in 2020 alone, which is the equivalent of 1 in every 5 deaths.
So, what is heart disease? The term “heart disease” refers to a variety of heart conditions. In the U.S., the most common type is coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects the blood flow to the heart.
Key risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking. About half of people in the United States (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors.
Additionally, CVD is most common within the female demographic, with it being their number one leading cause of death. And unfortunately, most women are unaware of this fact. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, only about half (56%) of women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer.
The downfall when it comes to heart disease is that at first, it may be “silent” and not diagnosed until a person actually reports some experience of signs or symptoms of a heart- related issue to their physician.
I know after reading all this information you probably feel like this disease is a hopeless cause however, there is an upside. Because heart disease is chronic, you have the ability to reverse or prevent it with certain life changes. You can do so through:
- Physical activity
- Healthy eating
- Quitting smoking
- Moderate to no alcohol use
During this time of celebrating your heart health, remember to take steps towards loving it through retaining its longevity.
Happy American Heart Month from Ford Wellness!
