February is Heart Month

February is Heart Month in Canada. The Heart & Stroke Foundation uses this month to raise funds and awareness about heart disease and stroke.

In support of their efforts, we would like to share some valuable information about heart disease and stroke. (All facts and figures come from http://www.heartandstroke.com.)

· Nine in ten Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke. These risk factors include: smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, being overweight, stress, diabetes, and excessive consumption of alcohol.

· Adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet can help reduce your risk. If you are overweight, even a 5% drop in your weight can make a big difference.

· Excess weight around the waist is more dangerous than extra pounds around the hips or thighs. To find out if you have a healthy waistline, click this link.

· Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death among women. Women can visit thehearttruth.com to learn more about their specific risks.

· Many people do not recognize the signs of a heart attack or stroke and fail to get medical treatment in time. If you or someone you know is at risk, knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke or heart attack could make all the difference. Click these links to learn more: heart attack warning signs or stroke warning signs.

Learning more about heart disease and stroke is one of the best preventative measures we can take. We invite you to share this blog post and spread the word about the risks, signs, and preventative strategies for heart disease and stroke.