DO YOU HAVE A HEALTHY HEART?

February is American Heart Month, a time when all people—especially women—are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health.

This Heart Month, the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) is encouraging women to listen to their hearts and speak up for their health.

Women in the United States are experiencing unacceptable and avoidable heart-related illness and death, and nearly half of U.S. women do not recognize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.

1. DHDSP aims to shed light on this important topic so that women no longer experience delayed recognition, diagnosis, and treatment for cardiac events, such as heart attacks.

2. Heart-health disparities specific to women widen and deepen when combined with race, ethnicity, and other social factors.

3. We encourage individuals, health care and public health professionals, and our partners to help close the disparities gap.

Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. These are called risk factors. About half of all Americans (47%) have at least 1 of 3 key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.

Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.

FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS PLEASE VISIT: Know Your Risk for Heart Disease | cdc.gov