Take Charge Of Your Heart Health This Month

You likely know someone living with heart disease—a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker—because it is far more common than many people realize. February is American Heart Month, a reminder to take charge of your heart health.

     Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in New York state, across the U.S. and around the world. Despite medical advances and decades of progress, cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to claim more lives each year than cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined. Someone in our country dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, that’s more than 2,500 lives lost each day.

    While many CVD deaths are related to coronary heart disease, conditions such as heart failure, hypertension, vascular disease and arrhythmias are also significant contributors. More than 130 million American adults are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke, and more than 80% of young and middle-aged adults show early warning signs tied to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic risks. These troubling numbers are not inevitable.

   The reality is many of the factors contributing to heart disease are woven into modern life. We are more sedentary than ever. We sleep less. We face daily stress from work, finances and professional and personal obligations. Convenience often replaces physical activity, and screen time replaces time outdoors. Over time, these habits take a toll. The good news is heart disease is often preventable.

Healthy living, including balanced nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep and stress management, can dramatically reduce risk. Studies suggest that if optimal cardiovascular health were achieved nationwide, as many as two million major cardiovascular events could be prevented each year.

Personal responsibility is a major component of prevention, but being prepared to act in an emergency is just as important. As the American Heart Association reminds us, “You are the first responder until professional help arrives.” Learning CPR is one of the most important steps anyone can take. Immediate action during cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death. Knowing what to do during an emergency can and will save lives.

Here in Oswego County, there are local opportunities to take that step. Oswego Health is offering three community CPR training sessions this month. Classes will be held Feb. 18 and Feb. 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the lower-level conference room of the Oswego Health Services Center (adjacent to Oswego Hospital) and Feb. 23 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Fulton Medical Center conference room. The courses will be taught by certified Basic Life Support instructors through the American Heart Association. Participants will receive a take-home kit that includes a mannequin and instructional materials to share with others. There is a $20 fee to cover materials, and registration information can be found at www.oswegohealth.org.

Small, consistent choices can have life-changing results. Improving daily habits and equipping ourselves with lifesaving skills like CPR helps protect your own health as well as the health of our families, friends and neighbors.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at [email protected]. You may also find me, Assemblyman Will Barclay, on Facebook or X at @WillABarclay.