HEALTHY TAKE Take Heart, You're the Cure MARK AMERICAN HEART MONTH WITH RISK-PREVENTION TIPS Good News Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. 24 Before you finish reading this article - about once every 40 seconds - another American will suffer a stroke. Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and lags just behind cancer as the leading cause of death for Virginia residents. The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. In celebration of American Heart Month, help prevent and increase awareness of the effects of heart disease by making healthy changes to lower your risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack. Don't be a statistic, be the cure! The following behaviors greatly lower the risk of heart disease: Watch your weight. Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke. Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. Get active and eat healthy. Already have heart disease? Controlling or preventing risk factors remains important. Learn more at www.heart.org or www.yourethecure.org. Source: American Heart Association Cooperative Living/February 2014http://www.heart.org http://www.yourethecure.org