It’s a fact- heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. Roughly 800,000 Americans die from heart attacks and other cardiac related illnesses each year while another 660,000 new cases of heart failure are diagnosed, according to the American Heart Association. The irony is, in four out of five cases, the heart disease was preventable. That’s why Kerr Drug’s clinical pharmacists are urging North Carolinians to use the month of February to become heart smart.

“We all need to quickly become heart smart because heart failure is reaching a critical level in the state,” says Mark Gregory, Vice-President of Pharmacy and Government Relations. “However with a few important and easy tips you can be on your way to building a healthy heart that will last a lifetime.”

Reduce the Risk

• Check your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol- Ask the pharmacist the next time you’re in. It doesn’t take long, it’s inexpensive and the information could be a lifesaver.

• Exercise-Don’t panic! To maintain a heart healthy lifestyle that only requires 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week. Ideas: Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car farther from the store and walk.

• Be a Quitter-Smoking is a big factor in heart disease as well as lung cancer.

• You Are What You Eat- A balanced diet with plenty of fish, green vegetables, fruits and nuts with Omega-3 fatty acids is recommended for heart health. Choose the fat-free or low fat products and cut the salt.

• Supplement the diet- Vitamins with antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C, and E are fine. So are fish oil tablets with Omega-3 fatty oils. But they should be supplements and not replacements for a good diet. Kerr Drug carries a variety of vitamins and supplements but talk to the pharmacist and your doctor about what is best.

“The heart is a muscle and like all other muscle groups in the body, it needs to be exercised and given nutrients to work properly and there’s no better time to start than February, when we’re all thinking about hearts,” says Gregory .

###