Ralston Valley [e]Xpress Newspaper

Heart disease is the single leading cause of death in the United States by a large margin.  By being aware of your own risk and spreading the information to others, you can help lessen the staggering numbers.  The American Heart Association gives hundreds of millions of dollars each year to support research and educate the public on heart disease and strokes, which annually kill about 960,000 Americans alone.  Here are some things you can do to decrease your risk of heart disease:

- Take care of yourself.  Any person can follow the American Heart Association’s “Simple 7”, which are modest improvements to your health that can make a big difference.  Here they are…

1.  Get Active

2. Eat Better

3. Lose Weight

4. Stop Smoking

5. Control Your Cholesterol

6. Manage Your Blood Pressure

7. Reduce Your Blood Sugar

- To help those around you, it is also an excellent idea to learn CPR.  In one afternoon, you can be trained in CPR and learn how to use an automated external defibrillator; two skills that can really help victims of unexpected cardiac arrest. The more prepared we are to treat sudden cardiac arrest, the more lives we can save.  It’s time to take action!  To learn more about the AHA or American Heart Month visit americanheart.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1.