American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, which aims at highlighting heart disease....the #1 killer of Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates that 1 person dies EVERY 36 SECONDS, from cardiovascular disease. In most all cases, heart disease is preventable by living a healthy lifestyle.
Known risk factors that can be eliminated include, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, obesity, elevated cholesterol, controlling blood sugars and uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Some ways to prevent cardiovascular disease:

• 30 minutes of physical activity daily, such as a brisk walk
• Cooking low sodium/low fat meals
• 7-8 hours of sleep each night
• Maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress
• Consistently taking medication for hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes