The Tioga County Legislature has proclaimed February 2018 as Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both males and females. In Tioga County, heart disease is responsible for 33% of deaths. Almost half of all Americans have at least one preventable risk factor for heart disease. These risk factors include: poor diet, physical inactivity, extreme alcohol use, and smoking. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates 40% of Americans will have cardiovascular disease by 2030 unless interventions take place. You can make simple changes daily to lower your risk of heart disease.
For instance:
Schedule a visit with your Primary Care Provider to talk about heart health, set goals, and ask questions.
Work on controlling your blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, and take your medications as prescribed.
Add exercise to your daily routine. Even starting with 15 minutes/day 3 times a week and slowly increasing the time and/or rate over weeks is a great start!
Add color to your plate! Increase the amount of fruits and veggies you eat in a day.
Take steps to quit smoking. Your Primary Care Provider is a good place to discuss this goal as they can advise you on medication options available to assist you.
Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than 1-2 drinks a day.
