February is National Heart Month

In honor of February’s National Heart Month, consider the health of your heart. Heart disease is a leading cause of illness and death in the United States.

Some factors that contribute to heart disease are unavoidable, such as genetics. However, many things can be done to reduce the risk of heart disease, such as not smoking, avoiding high consumption of alcohol, avoiding stress, maintaining a physically active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and watching cholesterol and blood pressure.
It is important to know what your personal risk factors for heart disease are.
Blood pressure is a key factor in heart health, so know the facts. Nearly one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure or hypertension. Even more alarming, one-third of these people don’t even know that they have high blood pressure. For this reason, it is considered the “silent killer” because there are often no indicators that a person has it. The good news is that it is controllable and often avoidable if the right habits are established.

There are many misconceptions about high blood pressure, including that it is a man’s disease, it is only a threat to older people, and that you will always feel symptoms if you have it. None of these are true.

Women are just as likely to experience high blood pressure as men; it can strike anyone at any age, and the cause is often unknown. The only way to detect it is through regular monitoring.  This a good reason to be screened for high blood pressure regularly.

As a service to the KMC, the Ramstein Health and Wellness Center will offer blood pressure screenings on the following dates and times:
• Ramstein Base Exchange  – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
• Ramstein Commissary – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday
• Vogelweh Base Exchange – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 24
• Vogelweh Commissary – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 25

If you need help getting started on a healthy plan, contact the Ramstein HAWC at 480-4292 or 06371-47-4292 for more information. Remember your heart this month and every month. Know your risk factors, avoid unhealthy habits and screen for high blood pressure and cholesterol regularly. Your heart will thank you. (Courtesy of the 435th Medical Group)