Protecting Your Heart Health

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. To raise awareness, people are encouraged to wear red today for “National Wear Red Day,” which always falls on the first Friday in February.

Risks to your heart are driven by factors such as high obesity rates and limited access to health care — a primary factor is high blood pressure, most common in people ages 30 to 50.

All those unhealthy habits add up and can raise your risk of heart disease over the years. Other contributing factors associated with an increased risk of heart disease include a poor diet, tobacco use and jobs that are physically demanding or stressful. But here are preventive measures you can take to protect your heart health.

Prioritizing screenings is crucial — many men skip checkups because they feel fine or think they’re too young to have heart problems, but that means threats to their heart health can go unnoticed. Early detection is key when it comes to treatment.

Eating a healthy diet and exercising also go a long way toward keeping your ticker healthy; medical experts recommend aiming for 30 to 60 minutes of vigorous activity daily. Getting quality sleep also helps reduce your risk.