It was a “Heart-to-Heart on Health” for participants at a community program hosted by Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute [1] and held at South Miami Hospital. February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on awareness and education about cardiovascular disease, which remains the nation’s No. 1 cause of death for both men and women.
A team of cardiologists and other healthcare professionals from Baptist Health South Florida [2] were on hand to provide health screenings, nutrition and smoking cessation counseling, as well as a panel discussion on ways to decrease risks for cardiovascular disease. Those in attendance also learned about the dangers of excess sugar in the diet and also indulged in a balanced, low-fat meal with only 559 calories.
Much of the discussion centered around the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” [3], a plan for keeping your heart healthy by following these suggestions:
1. Get Active.
2. Control Cholesterol.
3. Eat Better.
4. Manage Blood Pressure.
5. Lose Weight.
6. Reduce Blood Sugar.
7. Stop Smoking.
(SOURCE: American Heart Association)
The American Heart Association estimates that one in three adults has some form of cardiovascular disease. The good news — the organization also believes that 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by lifestyle modifications according to these seven tips.
If you would like to take a Heart Health Risk Assessment click Heart Health Risk Assessment [4].
The Baptist Health South Florida News Team was there to capture more heart healthy advice from the experts. Watch now! You can also follow the discussion on Twitter using #LoveYourHeartMore.