Love Your Heart and It Will Love You Back

From Valentine’s Day gifts to decorations in stores and everywhere in between, you’re probably seeing a lot of hearts this time of year. But when was the last time you looked at your own heart? (We don’t mean for relationships, but if you’re struggling with that, Hancock Health has resources that can help.)

February is Heart Health Month, and while it’s easy to get caught up in loving everyone important to you this time of year, taking care of your heart is vital all year round. 

Men tend to have an increased risk of heart-related events at a younger age than women, making it especially important for them to regularly check their hearts. But that doesn’t mean heart health isn’t important for women, too. In fact, even though the risk is increased for men, more women die from cardiovascular disease than from all cancers combined. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, stress, low physical activity, and poor diet can affect any gender—and can have serious impacts on your heart if not managed properly. 

Luckily, keeping your heart healthy and happy doesn’t take a lot of work. A simple diet change, increased physical activity, and cutting out smoking can all do wonders to improve your overall heart health. But some people require a little more intervention. For example, if you have a family history of cardiovascular issues, it’s especially important for you to consult your doctor and understand your risk for heart disease. And even if you don’t have a family history, but you still have some concerns, you can get a $49 heart scan from Hancock Health to answer your questions. 

Discovering risk factors that can contribute to heart disease can happen during regular exams, too—so don’t skip out on those yearly physicals. 

Whether you have low risk factors or high ones, it’s never too early to give your heart a little extra love. Don’t wait for symptoms to start. Call Hancock Health and schedule a heart scan today.