Sussex County celebrates American Heart Month

HARDYSTON — February is American Heart Month and the Department of Environmental and Public Health Services, along with the Sussex Warren Chronic Disease Coalition, invites Sussex County residents to learn more about heart disease and make lifestyle choices that can help keep their heart healthy.

Also, National Wear Red Day will be Friday, Feb. 7 to show support for awareness about heart disease in women.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. There are several types of heart conditions most commonly diagnosed. The first is coronary heart disease that can often lead to heart attack, angina, heart failure and arrhythmias. The second is cardiovascular disease that includes heart disease and stroke. The fact is that heart disease affects many Americans every year, resulting in death, disability and considerable health-care costs.

However, the good news is that it can also be preventable and controllable. There are steps anyone can take to help prevent heart disease and also manage existing medical conditions simply by making healthier choices.

People can:
Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke.

Schedule regular checkups with your health care professional.

Keep track of your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.

Don't smoke. If you do smoke, stop.

Eat a balanced diet that is low in saturated, trans fats and sodium.

Be physically active.
Limit their alcohol intake.

Heart disease kills more women in the U.S. than all forms of cancer combined. The warning signs for women are not the same as the symptoms commonly recognized in men, nor do they affect all women the same.

Information about heart disease will be available in all Sussex County libraries during the month of February. For more information on heart disease, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org. To learn more about National Wear Red Day, visit www.goredforwomen.org.