Heart Health

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation's No. 1 killer.  Are you at risk for developing heart disease?  Do you know what the controllable lifestyle factors are?  Check it out:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity

Here are some facts from the American Heart Association:

• 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• On average, 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds.
• More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
• More than 82 million American adults are estimated to have one or more types of cardiovascular disease.  That's one in three people!
• Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women 20 or older, killing about one woman every minute.

Where do you stand?  Are you getting enough physical activity each day?  If not, why not start today.  Try adding 10 or 15 minutes of moderate-intensity activity to your daily routine.  You don't have to come to the gym...try walking up and down your stairs at home; take the dog for a walk; dust off your bicycle and go for a bike ride with a loved one.  There are many ways to get your day active.  Think back to how our grandparents and great-grandparents lived.  No modern technology around to do everything for them.  Get off the couch, put down the remote and get active!  Your heart will thank you and so will your family.  Do it for yourself...do it for those who care about you.