Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating, lack of regular exercise, stressful environments, smoking, alcohol and substance use disorders and more, can all lead to heart disease.
It cannot be emphasized enough that our lifestyle choices and family history have a powerful impact on our heart health. Reimagining a heart-healthy life means we adopt “very intentional” lifestyle routines and make necessary changes to protect ourselves from heart disease and other preventable conditions such as diabetes.
In this edition, we share some basics about the heart: we explain what cholesterol is and how bad cholesterol affects the heart; how fiber-rich foods contribute to a healthy heart; and share some basics about the anatomy of the heart and provide a glossary of terms used to describe the heart and some of its conditions.
This year let’s be intentional about our heart health. Make an appointment for an annual checkup (or for some health issue that might be of concern to you right now), and make a list of questions you want to ask your doctor. When your laboratory results come back, ask what the numbers indicate about your health.
Protect your heart. Stay safe and healthy. And thank you for allowing us to bring you timely and relevant health news and information for more than 17 years!
To your health,
Ruth Ramsey, Publisher and CEO
