CHRISTUS Health emphasizes the importance of heart health, screenings and prevention

CHRISTUS Health recognizes American Heart Month in February as a time to bring awareness to a body’s most vital organ and educate people on how to keep it healthy.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the U.S., killing about 630,000 American each year.

Heart disease describes conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels: coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart rhythm problems, vascular heart disease, and congenital heart disease.

“To avoid heart disease, prevention is key,” said Dr. Fagg Sanford, chair of the CHRISTUS Heart and Vascular Institute. “Getting screened and treated for high blood pressure and cholesterol while you’re young has lasting benefits throughout your life.”

He said screenings for hypertension can start at age 18, and cholesterol screenings are recommended at age 30.

The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week, as an effective measure in heart disease prevention.

“Physical activity is the best exercise that I prescribe,” Sanford said. “Any amount of regular physical activity, even just a brisk walk, has been shown to benefit your heart, blood vessels, brand and physiological well-being.”

Sanford said eating healthy foods and creating healthy habits can go a long way.

“It’s especially important for those who have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol,” he said. “The Mediterranean and DASH diets are proven to help reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Both the Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets promote the importance of fruits, vegetables and whole grains while avoiding highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, fried foods, and too much salt.

Sanford said heart disease can present differently in men and women and explained that some patients may want to consider noninvasive, low risk studies to determine their cardiovascular risk.

“If you have a family history of heart disease or risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, you may want to inquire about further testing to determine your risk,” he said. “These tests allow us to estimate a potential risk more precisely and give a better chance at catching conditions before they become a more serious issue.”

He expressed the importance of having a primary care physician to learn your habits and your family history. Sanford said they can use that information to make recommendations as needed, to help keep your heart healthy until intervention is needed.

“Care can range from simple screenings and minimally invasive procedures to more complex invasive treatments,” he said. “A lot has changed in heart care over the last 30 years, and we have become very efficient at making sure your heart stays healthy.”