The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to do all they can do to keep their hearts strong and healthy beyond Valentine’s Day.
One of the leading causes of death is heart and cardiovascular disease.
Faisal Khan, director of the county public health department, said, “Despite the stereotypes that still exist, heart disease can affect anyone – not just men. In fact, one in three women who die each year dies from either heart disease or a stroke, and it’s time to change that.”
Common symptoms for both men and women who are having a heart attack are chest pain, discomfort in the left arm, and shortness of breath. Women may also experience irregular back pain in the upper or lower back, jaw pain, neck, pain, and nausea.
The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health is encouraging everyone to educate themselves more on the issue by:
- Finding out your heart numbers by seeing a doctor and having your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and glucose level checked.
- Learning about the importance of making healthy food choices and staying active to keep your heart healthy.
- Owning your lifestyle by choosing to stop smoking, lose weight, manage stress, and limit alcohol intake to promote the health of your heart.
- Visiting www.cdc.gov/heartdisease to learn more about reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Around 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes and the time to start is now.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth.
