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Each February, the American Heart Association sponsors American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Every year more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease.1 The purpose of this month is to raise awareness on the importance of heart health and what you can do to prevent heart disease in yourself and your loved ones.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is caused when plaque develops in the arteries that lead to the heart. Plaque accumulates overtime when the lining of an artery is damaged by high blood pressure, smoking or high cholesterol.3 When plaque clogs your arteries, oxygen and nutrients are unable to reach your heart.
Risk Factors3
Common risk factors are:
Smoking tobacco
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Having a high-sodium and high-carbohydrate diet
Obesity
Facts About Heart Health
One in five heart attacks happen without the person even knowing that they had one.1
Women under the age of 50 are twice as likely to die of a heart attack than men under 50.1
Heart attacks are more likely to occur on Monday mornings than other days of the week. 1
Diet soda raises heart attack risks. Drinking one or more diet sodas a day makes your chances of having a heart attack 43% higher than those that drink regular soda or none.1
Hypertension is the leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Nearly 1 in 2 U.S. adults has hypertension, but only 1 in 4 have it under control. 2
Heart Healthy Lifestyle Choices
The American Heart Association recommends that to live a healthy lifestyle, you must:4
Eat Smart: Make healthy, delicious choices wherever and whenever you eat.
Add Color: Make life more colorful with fruits and vegetables.
Move More: Infuse more movement into your life for optimal health.
Be Well: Create balance, vitality and wellbeing through self-care.
Heart disease can be prevented in a lot of cases. If you live a heart-healthy lifestyle, you can decrease your risk for heart disease.
Tria Health Can Help
This month and always, Tria Health can help you understand your risks of heart disease and what you can do to take better care of your heart. Tria Health offers Chronic Condition Management through our Pharmacy Advocate Program. Heart Disease is one of the many chronic conditions that Tria Health targets. Clinical Pharmacists provide one-on-one telephonic counseling for members and act as their personal advocate to help them navigate through the health care system. Through reviewing a member’s medications and lifestyle habits, Tria Pharmacists can make recommendations that will help control their chronic conditions and help them feel better!
Questions?
Call the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742
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