Northern California Medical Associates (NCMA) Cardiology is launching the “Be Heart Smart” campaign in honor of February’s American Heart month. The campaign intends to contribute to health awareness, focusing particularly on heart disease.
Since 1975, NCMA Cardiology has been committed to educating through outreach initiatives, while providing a wide range of heart health-related services.
For the last 80 years, heart disease has been the number one killer of people in the United States, and in 2015 it was the leading cause for premature deaths as well. Heart disease can be prevented, however, numbers indicate the disease is on the rise, even though people are aware of its existence and possible prevention methods. According to data released by the American Heart Association, one in nine deaths is a consequence of heart failure and one in seven deaths is related to coronary heart disease.
In honor of February being “Heart Month,” NCMA Cardiology launched the “Be Heart Smart” campaign; a social media campaign ongoing throughout the month as a way to help people understand that prevention has an enormous power to reverse the trends of rising heart disease rates.
Gender, age, race and heredity are risk factors that cannot be controlled. However, through healthy lifestyle choices, people can significantly reduce their chances of developing heart disease. The campaign aims to reach as many people as possible and educate them on these facts.
As stated in a recent press release, “NCMA cardiologists have identified seven interrelated goals that will help people reduce their risk for heart disease. In essence, the “Be Heart Smart” campaign is about (1) managing diet and weight, (2) exercising regularly, (3) quitting smoking, (4) reducing stress, (5) keeping blood pressure in the healthy range, (6) managing cholesterol levels, and (7) controlling blood sugar.”
Managing weight and diet is crucial to preventing heart disease. NCMA cardiologists note that people should eat smaller portions during meals and have frequent snacks during the day of vegetables and fiber-rich whole grains. Obesity is a threat to heart health, however, even though some people appear slim and fit, they do not always have healthy diet habits, either.
Importantly, among all known diets, the Mediterranean diet seems to be the healthiest.
Improving heart health does not have to be overwhelming; altering some habits and implementing small daily efforts can translate into major heart health improvements.
