Most people believe that cancer is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, but Jodi Cusack with the Pennsylvania Department of Health knows that’s not the case. “It’s heart disease,” says Bryant University’s associate director of clinical education and clinical assistant professor. Physician Assistant Program.

When you think of heart disease, coronary artery disease is usually the first example that comes to mind. Cusack explains that there are many other forms of heart disease, including atrial fibrillation, where people experience irregular heartbeats. heart failure. Affects the pumping action of the heart muscle. Myocarditis, which involves inflammation of the heart muscle.

“Traditionally, men have more habits that are associated with heart disease, such as alcohol abuse, smoking, and higher rates of obesity, but those trends are starting to level out,” Cusack says. “Teenagers now have higher levels of high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.”

Cusack, who currently works for a daily wage at the Rhode Island Free Clinic and often speaks to primary care patients about heart disease, shares five ways to create a heart-healthy lifestyle during American Heart Month. I’d like to introduce_______

1. Choose a Mediterranean-based diet

Change your eating habits by choosing lean meats (chicken and fish), increasing high-fiber foods (fruits and vegetables), incorporating more water into your diet, and limiting saturated fat and sodium. Cusack added that canned and preserved foods should be limited as they add unnecessary salt to the diet.

“Sodium increases blood pressure, increases the elasticity of coronary arteries, and reduces the flow of oxygen to the heart, which can lead to heart disease,” says Dr. Cusack.

2. Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol

Smoking can increase the buildup of plaque in your blood vessels, making your blood sticky. This means that your blood will clot more easily. Cusack encourages people with a history of smoking to do whatever they can to quit.

Additionally, limiting alcohol intake is beneficial for heart health. She says there is often confusion about whether alcohol is good or bad for you, pointing out that it comes down to moderation.

“While drinking a glass of red wine here and there is not a major cause of heart disease, regular and consistent alcohol use can be a cause of heart disease,” Cusack said. He emphasized that for women and others, drinking alcohol meant more than one drink a day. For men, drink at least 2 drinks a day.

3. Monitor your stress

It’s easier said than done, but reducing mental, mental, and emotional stress can have a positive impact on your heart health. Cusack suggests taking more time for yourself, participating in hobbies, and exercising more.

“Exercise is actually the biggest factor in reducing heart disease,” Cusack says. “Walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease by 50 percent.”

4. Learn how to recognize heart disease

Signs of heart disease, especially a heart attack, manifest differently in men and women.

“In addition to chest pain, men may also experience pain on the left side of their arm. In women, symptoms may present more atypically, including difficulty breathing, fatigue, nausea, and indigestion-like symptoms. “Yes,” Cusack said.

She added that women who drink diet soda daily have a 40 percent increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

“Often people develop bad habits, like drinking soda, and switch to diet soda, but research shows that diet soda isn’t actually that much better,” Cusack says. he says.

5. Keep your medical history up to date

The heart is the hardest working organ in the body, pumping approximately 2 gallons of blood around the body every minute. Knowing who in your family has heart disease or knows its early signs can keep you and your health care provider informed. Cusack suggests asking your parents or grandparents if they have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

“You should also ask men in your family if they started having heart disease before age 55. For women, this would be age 45,” Cusack says.