Every year more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease. It is the number one cause of deaths for most groups, affecting every age, gender, and ethnicity. To bring light on this disease, the U.S observes the month of February for this disease annually. This year, the U.S commemorates the 58th consecutive American Heart Month to raise awareness for the cause.
The first U.S proclamation about heart disease was issued in 1964. Like millions of Americans at the time, President Lyndon B. Johnson suffered from a heart attack. Since then, the U.S has been shinning a national spotlight on this killer disease. The human heart is the most important organ because it is responsible for blood throughout our body. It supplies oxygen and nutrients while also removing toxins and waste. Heart disease happens when the arteries leading to your heart become clogged. This can happen with risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.
The warning signs for heart disease can happen to people as young as 18. Although heart disease has been known for years, modern life seems to have increased these risk factors. Allowing for more people to be prone to heart disease. Today, roughly one in four deaths in U.S can be attributed to heart disease. To combat this, it is important to stay active and have a diet that can help reduce risk factors. That means eating a healthy and balanced diet as well as reducing your daily stress.
Heart disease is a very serious subject and any red flags for it should not be taken lightly. If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you should talk to your doctor on how you can manage it. Be sure to stay active and eat healthy in order to help prevent this disease.
For more information on American Heart Month, click here.
Article written by William Graves.