The leading cause of death for men and women in the US, including Wilmington, NC, is cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke. They kill an estimated 630,000 Americans each year.
Heart disease can be prevented. American Heart Month (February) is a good time to decide what you can do to achieve a heart-healthy life.
The most common type of heart problem is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack. You can reduce your risk through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication, such as a statin.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign urges citizens to spread the message that heart disease is not only a man’s problem. More women die of cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. Women once believed breast cancer was their greatest health risk; new data show that while one in 30 women die of breast cancer, one in three women die of heart disease.
80% of all cardiac events can be prevented if people made the right choices for their hearts. The advice for both men and women is the same.
Watch your weight. Quit smoking. Control cholesterol. Control blood pressure. Drink alcohol in moderation. Get active and eat healthy. Manage stress.
A little bite of work goes along way.