American Heart Month
When it comes to affairs of the heart, you are never too old or too young to take steps that could change your own or a loved one’s life. Almost 15.4 million people in the U.S. have coronary heart disease. That’s not surprising since it is the most common form of heart disease out there. Here in Florida, about 1.2 million people have coronary heart disease. Heart disease and stroke remain the world’s top killers.
That’s why the Boca Grande Health Clinic is joining with the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) throughout the month of February to mark American Heart Month by raising awareness about heart health and urging Islanders to reduce their risk for developing heart disease.
Understanding heart disease is a good first step in identifying and managing risk factors. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. These include:
- Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- Heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects)
- Heart valve disease
- Disease of the heart muscle
- Heart infection
Some of the simplest changes, like staying active, working on your weight and salt intake and quitting smoking can help prevent heart disease.