These Marjorie P. Lee residents wore red for American Heart Month because each has been touched by heart disease in some way
February is American Heart Month to publicize the fact that coronary disease is the No. 1 killer not only of men, but also of women, which comes as a surprise to many. Here's a video about how heart disease affected each of them. In some cases, they explain what they're doing about it.
Here's the video.
Some heart-health facts
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says these are the leading risk factors for heart disease. If you...:
- Have high blood pressure;
- Have high blood cholesterol;
- Are overweight or obesity;
- Have prediabetes or diabetes;
- Smoke;
- Do not get regular physical activity;
- Have a family history of early heart disease, for example if your father or brother was diagnosed before age 55, or your mother or sister was diagnosed before age 65;
- Have a history of preeclampsia, which is a sudden rise in blood pressure and too much protein in the urine during pregnancy;
- Have an unhealthy diet or eating behaviors; and
- Are age 55 or older for women — or age 45 or older for men.
What to do
Among things you should do are:
• Have your blood pressure checked regularly; and
• Check your cholesterol.
For more information, you can read a Q&A we did with ERS Wellness Director Chloe Hough about heart health and the dangers of coronary disease.
You also can download our Positive Aging Guide....
