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February is American Heart Month. One month of the year we dedicate to the awareness and prevention of heart disease. However, the need to create heart health awareness does not stop with the change of a month. Heart disease can take many forms: high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, stroke, or rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease causes 12 million deaths in the world each year. Heart disease is responsible for half of all deaths in the United States.

In the United States, more than 60 million Americans have some form of heart disease. About 2600 people die every day of heart disease. Cancer, the second largest killer, accounts for only half as many deaths.

Risk Factors of Heart Disease - High Blood Pressure - High Blood Cholesterol (LDL) - Diabetes - Obesity/Overweight - Smoking - Physical Inactivity - Heredity - Gender (males are higher risk) - Age - Alcohol Consumption - Stress

 

Preventing Heart Disease - Monitor and Control Blood Pressure - Regular Exercise - Don't Smoke - Test for Diabetes - Monitor and Control Cholesterol - Healthy Diet with Fruits & Veggies - Maintain a Healthy Weight - Reduce Stress - Moderate Alcohol Use

Smoking and Heart Disease

20% of all heart related deaths are directly linked to smoking, first and second hand. Surgeon general calls smoking the leading, most preventable, cause of heart disease and death in the United States. It is never too late to stop smoking.  There are many methods to help stop smoking. Make sure to have a strong support system, don’t try to quit “cold-turkey”, use replacement methods of nicotine such as gum, the patch, or nicotine lollipops. Nicotine lollipops are flavored candy suckers used as a nicotine replacement. They help not only with nicotine addiction but the oral habit as well. For more information on how to quit smoking or any smoking cessation products, like the nicotine lollipops, contact your local Community Wellness Centers.