It's Your Heart. It's Your Life.

February is National Heart Month, and a good time to consider how you can change or improve your lifestyle to stay heart healthy.

The heart facts
Coronary artery disease or "heart disease" is the nation's single leading cause of death. Most likely you know someone who has heart disease or a related condition.

Heart disease is a disorder of the blood vessels of the heart that can lead to heart attack. This occurs when an artery becomes blocked, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart. The American Heart Association estimates that this year 1.2 million Americans will have a heart attack. Nearly half a million will die.

Once diagnosed, heart disease is a life-long condition — but it doesn't have to lead to a heart attack. With proper treatment and behavior changes, it can be controlled.

Other related conditions
Changing your lifestyle can also improve or maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You may also be at risk for heart disease if you have either of these conditions:

High Blood Pressure (hypertension)

• Most cases of high blood pressure or hypertension cases stem from unknown causes, but the condition is easily detectable and can usually be controlled with proper treatment. You can determine your blood pressure during a regular visit to your doctor. Normal blood pressure in adults is below 120/80 mm Hg. High blood pressure occurs when the reading is 140/90 or higher.

For information on hypertension and pre-hypertension and their effects your body read Managing High Blood Pressure (pdf).

If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, see High Blood Pressure: What Can You Do to better manage your condition.

High Cholesterol
Nearly 35 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher — the point at which it becomes a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Your total cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dL, and your HDL (good) cholesterol should be 40 mg/dL or higher. LDL cholesterol is considered bad because it is the type that accumulates on artery. A LDL reading of almost 130 mg/dL means you are at risk for high cholesterol. (Information from American Heart Association website)

For more information see What You Should Know (pdf) and What Should Your Level Be? (pdf)

For additional information on heart disease visit "Know the Facts, Get the Stats 2006" (pdf) from the American Heart Association®.

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