Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States,
killing more than 600,000 Americans each year, and it’s why the entire month of
February is devoted to raising awareness of heart health. You should also know
that:
Cardiovascular disease kills more people each year than cancer, lower
respiratory diseases and accidents.
Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely to die from coronary
heart disease than nonsmokers.
Heart disease is the number one killer in women age 20 and over, killing
approximately one woman every minute.
Heart disease killed 631,636 people in 2006.
So, what can you do to protect yourself from heart disease? While there
are some risk factors you can’t control, such as age, gender, heredity, race
and diabetes, there are risk factors for heart disease you CAN control, like
high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, exercise, obesity and stress.
By eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and
vegetables and exercising regularly for at least 30 minutes each day, you can
do wonders for your heart. Determine whether your weight is within a healthy
range, don’t smoke and limit how much alcohol you drink. You should also talk
with your health care provider about your heart care. Talk to him or her about
monitoring your blood pressure, testing your cholesterol levels and regularly
monitoring your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
Alma Pugh
Human Services Program Specialist
Closing the Gap Program
Florida Department of Health in
Franklin/Gulf County
139 12th Street
Apalachicola, FL 32320
Phone: (850) 653-2111- 0133
Fax: (850) 653-1727
Email: alma.pugh@flhealth.gov
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