Heart Disease Risk Factors

Every February is American Heart Month, raising awareness about preventing heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Approximately 47 percent of all Americans have at least 1 of 3 key risk factors for heart disease – high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. In addition, other medical conditions and lifestyle choices put individuals at a higher risk for heart disease such as diabetes, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, overweight and obesity and excessive alcohol use. For those individuals with multiple risk factors, they have an increased risk for heart disease. Most of these risk factors can be prevented in most cases by following a healthy lifestyle of increased physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping track of blood pressure, cholesterol and sugars, getting enough quality sleep, reducing stress and quitting smoking.

Making the changes mentioned above to your lifestyle do not need to happen all at once and you do not have to do it alone. Use American Heart Month to partner with others who you enjoy being around to make a change(s) to your lifestyle which helps to reduce your risk factors. We are more successful meeting goals when we have the support of others. Ask a family member, friend, co-worker—even someone you have been meaning to get to know better. By practicing your own self-care, you set an example for others to also care for themselves.

Many resources are available to help you get started. Contact your medical provider team, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website at nhlbi.nih.gov or our office.

This information was compiled from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To learn more, contact Janell at the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3036, janellb@montana.edu or in the green building next to the Chouteau County Courthouse at 1308 Franklin St in Fort Benton.

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Montana State University, US Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.