Since 1963, February has been designated as American Heart Month to advocate cardiovascular health and raise awareness about heart disease.

The phrases “heart disease” and “cardiovascular disease” are used interchangeably to describe the various conditions that affect your heart. Heart or cardiovascular diseases include blood vessel diseases, heart rhythm problems, and congenital heart defects.
The most common form of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed due to a buildup of cholesterol, known as plaque. CAD can lead to health issues such as heart attack, heart failure, angina (chest pain), stroke, and irregular heartbeat.

Heart disease can strike anyone, but certain individuals may be more at risk than others. Some of the most common risk factors for heart disease include: High blood pressure, High cholesterol, Diabetes, Obesity, Poor diet, Inactive lifestyle, Cigarette smoking, and Excessive alcohol consumption

Luckily, there are many ways to keep your heart in great shape, even as you age: Get 150 minutes of exercise per week, Quit smoking, eat a heart healthy diet loaded with fresh fruits and veggies, Get regular check-ups to monitor health conditions that affect the heart, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, and make sure they’re under control with medication, reduce alcohol intake, get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night, and find healthy outlets to reduce stress