Many people associate February with love—and we see heart shapes everywhere promoting it!
This February, during American Heart Month, I would like to pass along some tips for taking care of our hearts. I also want to share some tips about preventing chronic diseases for all of us who would like to achieve our healthiest future!
WHY SHOULD WE TAKE CARE OF OUR HEARTS?
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of illness, death and disability in the United States, affecting more than half of the population. Approximately six in 10 Americans live with at least one chronic disease, leading to significant health and financial problems.
Cardiovascular diseases, alone, are affecting so many of us. In 2020, one in every three US adults received care for a cardiovascular risk factor or condition. There are costs to lives and families, costs in health care dollars, and costs to emergency response and health care resources. In fact, health care costs and lost productivity due to cardiovascular disease cost over $400 billion annually in the US.
WHAT ARE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES?
Cardiovascular diseases are a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels— these conditions include ischemic heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries).
In Nebraska, about 9 percent (1 in every 11) adults have been diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease. Nationally, heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death, with cardiovascular diseases claiming a life approximately every 33-34 seconds.
Sadly, if you have diabetes, you are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than if you don’t have diabetes, according to the American Heart Association. Over time, the high blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves that control the heart, which speeds up the development of cardiovascular disease.
So—please, love on your heart! Find out if you are at risk for cardiovascular disease and make a change!
Many chronic diseases— like heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure - develop silently. You might feel perfectly fine while a condition is already progressing. Regular visits allow health providers to spot early warning signs and intervene before the disease becomes serious.
A first step you can do is to ask yourself if any of these risk factors apply to you: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high levels of stress and family history of heart disease, stroke or other chronic diseases. If the answer is yes, consider making a change starting this month.
A NEXT STEP IS TO CHECK YOUR ABCS: A is for the A1C test. The A1C test shows you your blood sugar (called glucose) levels. High blood sugar levels can harm your heart, your blood vessels, kidneys, feet and eyes - and high blood sugar levels are a risk factor for diabetes.
B is for Blood Pressure. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. It can cause heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
C is for cholesterol. One kind of cholesterol, called LDL, can build up and clog your blood vessels. It can cause heart attack or stroke.
For all of the ABCs—ask your health care provider what your numbers are, what they should be and what you can do to reach your ABC goals.
If you are at risk for cardiovascular disease, you can take steps to manage your A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol. Many people are able to lower their risks to a healthy range by making lifestyle changes, such as:
KEEPING A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Making healthy food choices (Eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol) Staying Active (Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week—about 30 minutes each day for five days each week) Quitting smoking Managing stress Reducing chronic disease risk factors and improving management of chronic conditions can also help protect you from the likelihood of having symptoms after exposure to infectious diseases such as influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
It can strengthen your immune response, lowering inflammation in your body and improving your overall resilience to infections.
To find locations to get your blood pressure measured or get an A1C test; or to take a diabetes risk assessment; or for tips on being more physically active or making healthier food choices—speak with one of our staff at the South Heartland District Health Department or visit our website: southheartlandhealth.ne.gov.
This February, the South Heartland team challenges you to do a little something now for a healthier future you! Keep yourself and your heart healthy for those who love you by taking one step this month to reduce your risk for chronic disease.
