February is American Heart Month, a time when everyone is encouraged to pay attention to their cardiovascular health. Heart disease has long been the leading cause of death for both men and women, surpassing cancer. In 2022, approximately 15,000 Alabama residents will die from heart disease, and more than 3,000 will die from cerebrovascular disease, including stroke.
Lifestyle changes and sometimes medications can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. About half of Americans (47%) have at least one of the three major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.
Risk factors for heart health can be summarized as follows:
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. Unfortunately, too many Alabamians are unaware that they have high blood pressure, which over time can damage organs and other systems throughout the body. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure.
- Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels: If you have high blood cholesterol levels, there are usually no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol levels is to have your cholesterol levels tested. Your health care team can measure your cholesterol levels by doing a simple blood test called a “lipid profile.”
- Smoking: Cigarette smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart diseases such as atherosclerosis and heart attack.
- Diabetes: Adults living with diabetes have a higher risk of dying from heart disease than adults without diabetes. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages everyone to take an active role in their own health and learn what they need to do to keep their hearts healthy. Healthy habits include making healthy food and drink choices, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity, and not smoking or vaping. Medications may include drugs that lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Employees in Alabama have the opportunity to find out if they have risk factors for heart disease. Since 2009, the State Employees Insurance Health Plan has provided health screenings to state employees and their dependents as part of its wellness program. Since January 2009, more than 45,000 employees and their families have been referred to health care providers for early treatment of identified high-risk patients.
The Department of Health offers programs to promote heart health. The Cardiovascular Health Program partners with senior centers, libraries and other community sites to provide support such as self-monitoring blood pressure stations across the state. The WISEWOMAN program is available in several counties and provides low-income, uninsured, or underinsured women with services to improve high blood pressure and promote healthy lifestyles. Masu. The Well Women Program provides services that promote healthy living and disease prevention/early detection for women ages 15-55 living in select Alabama counties. Services include cardiovascular disease risk factor screening, risk reduction counseling, nutrition classes, support groups, and physical activity resources to help you maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Many Alabamians are taking active steps to lower their risk of heart disease by working with their health care providers and following treatment plans. This means taking your medication as directed and making lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt intake if you have high blood pressure.
For those who want to stop using tobacco products and improve their heart health, the Alabama Tobacco Quit Line offers free calls, free coaching, and free nicotine patches (if medically eligible and receiving coaching). Information, referrals, and counseling will be treated as confidential, and sessions will be designed on a schedule that is convenient for the caller. People enrolled in the counseling program can receive up to eight weeks of nicotine patches to help them quit smoking, if they are medically eligible. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit quitnowalabama.com.
Heart disease can be debilitating and deadly, but it's often preventable. Living a healthy lifestyle can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels within healthy ranges, lowering your risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Information about making heart-healthy choices can be found on ADPH's Nutrition and Physical Activity website.
Scott Harris, MD, MPH
state health officer
