#1 Killer in United States is Heart Disease

February isn’t just a month for love, but also American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health, as heart disease is the number one killer of Americans.

Anyone can be at risk for a cardiac issue, even young people. Damar Hamlin, the 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety is a perfect example of this. A professional football player in peak shape, he went into cardiac arrest after a hit on the football field during a game.

Hamlin was lucky-he survived his heart attack due to the quick actions of people and emergency responders at the game who saved his life with CPR and other medical interventions. Every year, more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease. It is the number one cause of death for most groups.

Every 40 seconds, a loved one still has a heart attack or stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

February is designed as American Heart Month. A time to raise awareness on the importance of a healthy heart and encourage healthy habits to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Heart disease is one of the most widespread and complicated health challenges in the US and worldwide.

Despite the challenges, there are many hopeful signs.

Do you know how to keep your heart healthy? Many risk factors for heart disease can be modified, and heart disease is preventable in some cases. You can take an active role in reducing your risk for heart disease by eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, decreasing stress, and managing your cholesterol and blood pressure. Not only is February a great month to learn about heart disease, but also a great time to instill some heart-healthy habits into your daily routine.

You can observe this awareness by simply talking to your physician about your risk factors. Identify your risk factors and find healthy ways to combat them. Review and know the signs for heart disease risk:

1. High blood pressure. Millions of people in the US have high blood pressure, and millions of them are as young as 40-50. If you are one of these people, talk to your doctor about how to control it and monitor yourself at home.
2. High cholesterol, diabetes and obesity are all conditions that can increase your risk of heart disease. If you find yourself in one of these categories, work on eating a heart-healthy diet and getting some physical activity into your daily life.
3. Stop smoking. Over 35 million adults in America are smokers, and thousands of young people pick up the habit daily. If you’re a smoker, do your best to quit or cut down.

It is essential to take doctor-prescribed medication and choose heart-healthy foods for nutrition.

Seeking advice from a registered nutritionist is a way to find a nutrition plan that will work for you. Another critical factor is to reduce stress in any way you can. Don’t forget to stay active! Walking is one of the healthiest and safest activities we can do for ourselves.

Living a sedentary lifestyle will put anyone at a much greater risk for heart disease. Look into exercise classes at your local rec center, senior center or seek support from a fitness instructor. Exercise is also a great stress reliever for many people.

There is a huge opportunity to increase heart disease awareness and reduce the risk of its progression. This year, many advocacy and research organizations support events to educate the public about cardiovascular disease and raise money for research and support services. For example, Hamlin has become an advocate for CPR and has issued the #3forHeart CPR Challenge with the American Heart Association to encourage more people to learn the CPR techniques that helped to save his life.