Feb. 16, 2022
Heart disease does not discriminate – it is the No. 1 killer of men and women and is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in our country. Locally, we found through the 2020 Lee County Community Health Needs Assessment that around 87% of residents in our county have at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Do you know your risk for heart disease?
When it comes to risk factors for heart disease, there are some you can control, like blood pressure, cholesterol, whether or not you smoke, how much you drink, what you eat and how much you weigh. There are others, like your family history and genetics, that you cannot control.
At Lee Health, we want to help you understand your personal risk factors and instill heart-healthy habits. We recommend keeping regular appointments with your primary care provider – that is a great place to start to track your blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and any other chronic conditions, like diabetes. Talk to your health care provider if you need extra help quitting smoking or improving your diet. If you have not established a relationship with a primary care provider, you should because your primary care provider will help you stay as healthy as possible with appropriate screenings, vaccinations and referrals to specialists should you need them.
Regular physical activity is vital to your heart health. Exercise can improve cholesterol levels, help control blood pressure and weight, and promotes psychological well-being, reducing depression and anxiety. At Lee Health, our Healthy Life Centers offer personal fitness and educational experiences that will help you reach your goals. The Healthy Life Center – Cape Coral and Babcock Ranch both feature strength and cardio equipment, group fitness classes, personal training, pools, basketball courts and much more. Both facilities and the Healthy Life Center – Coconut Point also offer educational seminars to inspire and empower you even more.
If you are looking for some inspiration to bring more heart-healthy foods into your diet, the Healthy Life Center – Coconut Point is hosting a virtual event called “Nutrition in Kitchen: Healthy Happy Heart” from 1-2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25. Through this free, virtual event, you can join Kat, one of our registered dietitians, to learn about keeping your kitchen heart-healthy, reducing your risk for heart disease, while also being delicious and satisfying. For more information, call 239-468-0050 or visit www.tinyurl.com/HeartHealthyEvent.
More information on heart health can be found on our website, too, at www.LeeHealth.org/our-services/cardiology/education-prevention. Here you can read about how to prevent certain heart conditions, get to know definitions and terms, and get answers to common questions.