PSA: Tips to prevent heart disease

Guest blog by Brad King

February is American Heart Month, and unfortunately, most of us know someone who has had heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities.

Here are some of the things that you can do to help prevent heart disease:

1. Get up and get active by being physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
2. Make your calories count by eating a heart-healthy diet in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sodium and trans fat.
3. Show your support for heart health and wear red on Friday February 3rd
4. If you smoke, get help to quit
5. Get your blood pressure checked regularly:

a. The Norwood Health Department provides two free blood pressure clinics every month. The first clinic takes place at the Health Department on the first Friday of every month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The second clinic takes place at the Norwood Senior Center on the second Wednesday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Let us all work together in reducing/preventing heart disease and stroke. If you need more information please contact the Health Department or visit www.cdc.gov/Features/HeartMonth.

Brad King, MPH, RS
Norwood Health Commissioner