Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Wisconsin and the United States, accounting for more than 370,000 deaths each year. While the death rate from heart disease fell about 38 percent from 2003 – 2013, the burden and risk factors remain alarmingly high. 1 out of every 3 Wisconsin adults dies from a heart attack or stroke.
February is American Heart Month, an excellent time to educate individuals that heart disease can often be prevented by making healthy choices and managing their health conditions. Heart disease is defined as all diseases of the heart and blood vessels and includes coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, hypotensive disease, and atherosclerosis. Risk factors include overweight and obesity, high cholesterol and blood pressure, binge drinking, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and diabetes.
The Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation works hard to promote healthy living through its various programs like First Breath by helping protect women and their families from tobacco smoke, and GrapeVine by teaching communities about chronic disease risk factors and healthy lifestyle changes through free community education sessions.
As part of these efforts, the WWHF is proudly participating in American Heart Month and taking the opportunity to raise awareness about heart disease and increase knowledge about prevention. Sharing this information is important because about 80% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented through everyday healthy living steps, including:
not smoking;
physical activity;
good nutrition;
maintaining healthy weight; and
controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels
For more information about American Heart Month and to stay on top of all the heart healthy news throughout Febraury, visit the American Heart Association website, subscribe to this blog, and like the WWHF on Facebook!