February is American Heart Month, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. As a matter of fact, every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease (Healthfinder.gov).

This American Heart Month, we’re having a heart to heart with you by sharing some suggestions for staying heart-healthy.

Heart-Healthy Tips from the Family Health Clinic

Amy Aeschliman’s Heart-Healthy Tips:

• Regularly get physicals and check-ups from your primary care provider
• Make sure you regularly screen your blood pressure. 

Jenny Boget’s Heart-Healthy Tips:

• Exercise regularly, no matter the length of time.
• Monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis.

Our Pharmacy Staff’s Heart-Healthy Tips:

• Quit smoking. It can reduce your risk of a cardiovascular event (heart attack, stroke) by as much as 50% (along with other health benefits).
• Avoid secondhand smoke. About 22,700 to 69,600 premature deaths from heart and blood vessel disease are caused by other people’s smoke each year. (Heart.org)

Make Changes Starting this American Heart Month

You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease! Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease.

If you are having questions about heart disease, heart problems, this information, or if you want to know if you are at risk for developing heart disease, make an appointment with us by calling 1-800-321-5043.