It’s February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart disease, the number one killer of Americans. Friday, February 2nd, is National Wear Red Day, part of the American Heart Association’s ‘Red for Women’ initiative. The Heart Association says that many people put off going to the doctor for routine checkups during the pandemic, or flat out didn’t go to the hospital for suspected heart attacks. While in lockdown, more people have engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as eating poorly, drinking more alcohol and limiting physical activity, that can contribute to heart disease.
Meanwhile, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans and is still the leading cause of death worldwide. One in three women will die of heart disease, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week and having regular checkups. Don’t die of doubt…call your doctor today and schedule a checkup.
