Heart disease is no longer considered an old person’s disease. It can happen to anyone at any age. Heart health month is celebrated in February to raise awareness about risk factors for heart disease and what can be done to prevent it.
Heart disease is considered the #1 killer in the United States. Every year more people die of heart disease than any other medical condition.
Do you have any of these risk factors for heart disease?
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Unhealthy eating habits
More than 50% of Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease.
What can you do to lower your risk for heart disease?
- Cardiovascular Exercise: Try to get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise every day. Depending upon your age, fitness level, and the health of your joints, this could be brisk walking, swimming, biking, jogging, aerobics, or any sporting activity that increases your heart rate to slightly above normal. You can also do interval training by interspersing periods of high intensity activity with moderate activity.
- Eat a heart healthy diet: Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Avoid food rich in trans fats or saturated fats and don’t add extra salt or sugar to your food. Limit alcohol intake to no more than one or two drinks per day.
- Quit smoking: There are more than 37 million adult smokers in the US. According to research studies, smoking is the leading preventable cause for death in the US. Smoking can damage blood vessels and interfere with the body’s natural healing processes. If you are unable to quit smoking on your own, don’t hesitate to seek help.
Please note, before starting on a new exercise program or sporting activity, it may be good idea to undergo a general health evaluation and get any bone and joint condition evaluated by an orthopedic physician or sports medicine specialist.
Dr. Jacob brings cutting edge techniques and technology to the Oklahoma City area. He has extensive training in minimally invasive, rapid recovery joint replacement as well as robotically assisted hip and knee replacement. Dr. Jacob is a pioneer in outpatient joint replacement allowing some patient to go home the same day as their procedure and recover in the comfort of their own home. The cornerstone of Dr. Jacob’s practice is to have the recovery process be easier, faster and less painful allowing his patients to get back into the game of life. Dr. Jacob is committed to bringing the highest level of orthopedic care while treating each and every patient like a family member. Providing you with patient centered care you can trust.
