February is American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month! This is a great time to commit to a heart-healthy lifestyle and make small changes that will lead you to living a longer, healthier life.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. African American men are at the highest risk for heart disease. In America, one woman dies from heart disease every 80 seconds. What can both men and women do to make a difference in their heart health?
- Book an appointment with your doctor to talk about your heart health. See if your diet and exercise regimen should be changed. Let your doctor know of any heart problems in your family’s history or any strange symptoms you’ve had or currently have.
- Add exercise into your daily routine. Start off with a 15-minute walk a few times a week. Gradually work your way up to 30 minutes a few times per week.
- Eat heart-healthy foods: lean meats, vegetables, fruits, whole grains. Avoid sugary treats, high sodium foods and fried foods.
- Quit smoking. Quitting smoking can drastically cut your risk for both heart disease and stroke.
- Talk to your doctor about medications you may need to help your heart, including high blood pressure and cholesterol medicines.
During the month of February, the American Heart Association wants to remind Americans to focus on their hearts to encourage a culture of health where making healthy choices is easy. The first American Heart Month, which took place in February 1964, was proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson via Proclamation 3566 on December 30, 1963. Back then, more than half of American deaths were caused by cardiovascular disease.
This disease, unfortunately, still claims the lives of 17.3 million people each year across the globe. Fortunately, 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes.
February 2 is National Wear Red Day. The American Heart Association teams up with Support Go Red For Women to help support programs that generate awareness and research to discover knowledge about cardiovascular health. To donate, click here.
February 22 is the 2nd annual Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. According to the Alliance for Aging Research, “The goal of the National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day is to increase recognition of the specific risks and symptoms of heart valve disease, improve detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives. While heart valve disease can be can be disabling and deadly, available treatments can save lives, making education and awareness particularly important.” To learn more, visit http://www.valvediseaseday.org.
Looking to take charge of your heart health? Don’t ignore the symptoms any longer and seek treatment. If you suffer from heart disease, it’s time to talk to a heart valve surgeon about your options. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a heart valve surgeon who specializes in mitral valve surgery and TAVR. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844. He is based in New Port Richey, Florida, and treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater areas..
