McHenry County Government: Learn About Your Heart Health This February

Huntley IL

07 February, 2022

11:57 AM

Description

Press release from the McHenry County Government: 02/07/2022 In commemoration of American Heart Month, the McHenry County Department of Health is encouraging everyone to think about their heart and prevent heart disease. Heart disease, a catch-all phrase for a variety of conditions that affect the heart's structure and function, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though usually preventable, heart disease is sometimes silent and unforeseen until a person experiences signs of a heart attack, heart failure or an arrhythmia. One of the best ways to prevent heart disease is by taking steps now to improve heart health. There's a lot that can be done to promote heart health and protect yourself from heart disease: Ask your medical provider about your body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol and A1C. Reduce sodium in your diet. Add more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet. By physically active. A 10 minute walk after a meal can go a long way. Maintain a healthy weight. Don't smoke. Manage stress. Keep your diabetes under control. Women who are enrolled in the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), are between the ages of 40 and 64 and are uninsured or underinsured and qualify can take preventative steps through MCDH's WISEWOMAN program to know their heart status and begin improving their heart health.  Those who qualify can begin their improved heart journey by receiving a lipid panel, hemoglobin A1C test, health coaching and get connected with community-based resources. MCDH has other programs to assist in your heart health in addition to the WISEWOMAN program: Wellness clinics (BMI, A1C, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure), smoking cessation assistance and diabetic prevention/management support/classes. Visit www.CDC.gov/HeartDisease for more resources and information about heart disease.  Call the MCDH Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Program at (815) 334-0232 to learn more about the programs MCDH offers to support heart health. This press release was produced by the McHenry County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.