Your Heart, Your Life: February Is the Time to Take Action Against Heart Failure

-Editorial

Each February, American Heart Month draws attention to a stark reality: heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives each year and affecting people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and public health authorities, heart disease — including heart attacks, heart failure and stroke — is largely preventable through informed lifestyle choices and proactive health care.

Why Heart Health Matters

Heart disease accounts for nearly one in four deaths in the U.S., making it the leading killer of both men and women across most racial and ethnic groups. Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and only about one in four people with high blood pressure has it under control.

Heart failure — a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently — often follows years of silent damage due to high blood pressure, uncontrolled cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and smoking. Although treatments have improved survival after heart attacks, many survivors develop chronic cardiovascular conditions later in life.

As the AHA emphasizes, early prevention improves quality of life and can reduce the burden of chronic heart disease later on.

The Core Risks: Lifestyle and Choices

Heart health is shaped by both unmodifiable and modifiable factors. Some — like age, sex and family history — cannot be changed. But key risk factors are strongly tied to how we live day to day, and this is where prevention can make a difference.

1. Diet and Nutrition
   A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, added sugars and processed foods contributes to high cholesterol levels, weight gain and elevated blood pressure — all precursors to heart disease. Choosing meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins helps keep cholesterol and blood pressure in healthy ranges, reducing the risk of heart failure and other cardiac events.
2. Physical Inactivity
   Regular physical activity strengthens the heart and improves circulation. Adults are encouraged to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week — about 30 minutes a day on most days — plus muscle-strengthening activities a few times a week. Lack of exercise contributes to obesity, elevated blood pressure and diabetes, all of which strain the cardiovascular system.
3. Tobacco and Alcohol Use
   Smoking damages blood vessels, reduces oxygen in the blood and accelerates plaque buildup in arteries. Tobacco use — including secondhand smoke exposure — significantly increases the likelihood of heart disease. Heavy alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure and contribute to irregular heart rhythms and cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
4. Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Control
   High blood pressure and elevated LDL (“bad”) cholesterol silently damage arteries over time. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have uncontrolled hypertension. Regular screening and treatment — along with lifestyle changes — help manage these “numbers” before they trigger serious heart problems.
5. Diabetes and Weight
   Uncontrolled blood sugar and excess body weight place added strain on the heart and blood vessels. Obesity is linked to higher incidences of hypertension and diabetes — conditions that accelerate atherosclerosis (arterial narrowing) and heart failure. Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and activity is critical.

Prevention Starts With You

The good news: many forms of heart disease can be prevented or delayed with consistent lifestyle changes and regular medical care. Public health experts often note that controlling key risk factors — such as diet, inactivity, smoking, and obesity — could prevent more than 80% of heart disease cases.

Practical Steps for Heart Health

• Eat smart: Focus on fresh produce, whole grains and lean proteins. Cut back on salt, sugar and processed foods.
• Stay active: Build physical activity into your daily routine — walking, biking, swimming or even gardening count.
• Stop smoking: Quitting tobacco significantly lowers heart disease risk. Even avoiding secondhand smoke makes a difference.
• Check your numbers: Regularly monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar to catch issues early.
• Limit alcohol: Drink in moderation or not at all, as excessive consumption raises blood pressure.
• Manage stress and sleep: Adequate rest and stress reduction play a role in maintaining heart health.

Information Is Prevention

American Heart Month serves as a powerful reminder that information truly is prevention. Understanding risk factors, recognizing how lifestyle choices influence your cardiovascular system and taking steps — big or small — to protect your heart can extend life and improve its quality.

Your heart doesn’t just keep you alive — it sustains your life. Protect it with informed choices every day.