Heart Healthcare- February is American Heart Month. The month is dedicated to educating the public about cardiovascular health in the United States; it is spent raising awareness about the types of heart disease, associated risks, and different ways to fight against it. This year, focusing on heart health is more important than ever: people with poor cardiovascular health are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, an infection that has been found to damage the heart significantly in many people.

There is a range of conditions that cause different types of heart disease. The most common type is coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease; other types of heart disease include arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy. Heart disease continues to be the number one cause of death for Americans, according to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2021 Update—it claims more lives annually than all forms of cancer combined. The statistical report, published in the journal Circulation, states that deaths due to cardiovascular disease have increased significantly over the last decade, with close to 19 million deaths worldwide as of 2019, the most recent year for which such statistics have been considered and calculated. Over 523 million cases of cardiovascular disease were reported that year, a near-27% increase since 2010.

So, what do you need to know to address heart disease on a personal level? Your first step toward heart health is to understand your risk of having it. Your specific risk depends on several different factors, as certain conditions and habits increase your likelihood of developing the disease. The risk factors for heart disease are often different for every individual; examples of key risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a smoking habit.

American Heart Month is the perfect time to educate others about heart health. You can take several steps to protect your heart; about 80% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented by practicing healthy living habits every day. Cardiovascular disease can be prevented by managing any existing health conditions appropriately and making healthy life choices, including not smoking, getting adequate physical activity/exercise, making sure you have good nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight, and other healthy habits.

Optimum cardiovascular health involves understanding your risk of heart disease and then making choices that reduce the chance that you will get it. By practicing healthy habits and taking preventative steps, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease while also improving your overall health and lifestyle.

While you keep an eye on your heart health, you should also monitor the health and wellbeing of your healthcare practice. Quick Claimers Medical Billing knows how important it is to healthcare providers to be able to focus on providing quality patient care. The experts at Quick Claimers can help you by providing effective medical coding and billing solutions to keep your business healthy, freeing you to concentrate on your patients and their health needs. Contact Quick Claimers online, or call them at 915-351-6600, to discuss the services they can provide.

Written by: Erika Mehlhaff