“Go Red” for women on Feb. 1

On Feb. 1, millions of Americans will wear red to show their support for heart health – honoring women affected by heart disease and expressing their commitment to a heart healthy lifestyle. Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States.

February is American Heart Month, and it serves as a reminder that you can take steps to prevent heart disease and control its risk factors. Even if you have no obvious symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.

A person with high blood pressure is three times more likely to die from heart disease. About 25 percent of Coloradans know they have high blood pressure, but only about half have it under control.

The Million Hearts’ Initiative, a joint effort between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers of Medicare and Medicaid, aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes nationally over five years. Million Hearts™ brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies and private-sector partners to fight heart disease and stroke.

Be one in a million hearts. Make your commitment and pledge today.

http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html

Find out more about heart attacks

http://www.coepht.dphe.state.co.us/Health/heartAttacks.aspx

Learn what you can do to control your risk factors:

Make healthy choices every day. 

Lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack by taking simple steps:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be active. Exercise regularly.
• Be smoke-free.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Manage any medical condition you might have. Learn the ABCS of health. Keep them in mind every day and especially when you talk to your health provider:

o   Appropriate aspirin therapy for those who need it

o   Blood pressure control

o   Cholesterol management

o   Smoking cessation