February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on the importance of cardiovascular health. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women — but you can do a lot to protect your heart and stay healthy.

Heart-healthy living involves understanding your risk for heart disease, making healthy choices, and taking steps to reduce your chances of getting heart disease, including coronary heart disease. By taking preventive measures, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease and improve your overall health and well-being.

One leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke is high blood pressure — also known as hypertension. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure measured. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests talking with your health care team about how you can manage your blood pressure and lower your risk.

Stress can contribute to high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors, and many work settings contribute to stress. To learn more about managing stress, the NHLBI provides their “Stress Less for a Healthier Heart” fact sheet that you can download here: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/res.../stress-less-healthier-heart

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides a wealth of information about heart disease. To learn more about heart disease, visit their webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm

HazTek Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive safety management services designed to protect workers by enhancing workplace safety. For additional information or to learn more about HazTek’s services, please contact us at 888.842.9835, email us at info@haztekinc.com, or visit our website at www.haztekinc.com

Credit: NHLBI and CDC

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