Listen to Your Heart: Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

by | Feb 27, 2026 | news, Uncategorized

As American Heart Month comes to an end, it’s a reminder to us all to prioritize our heart health and encourage our loved ones to do the same. Every day, 2,500 lives are lost to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the American Heart Association, Life’s Essential 8 are key areas to focus on to improve your heart health:

  1. Eat better (whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts and seeds)
  2. Be More Active (2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week)
  3. Quit Tobacco
  4. Get Healthy Sleep (7-9 hours per night for adults)
  5. Manage Weight (Optimal BMI between 18.5 and 25)
  6. Control Cholesterol
  7. Manage Blood Sugar
  8. Manage Blood Pressure (Levels less than 120/80 mm Hg are optimal)

Manet Community Health can support you every step of the way. From connecting you with expert dietitians to providing resources that help you quit smoking, your Manet provider is here to guide you.

If you have high blood pressure, talk to your Manet provider about remote patient monitoring. This program can help you stay informed about your health, inform medication and dietary adjustments, and alert your care team when issues need attention.

The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately.

The major symptoms of a heart attack are:

  • Chest pain or discomfort.
  • Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint and/or breaking into a cold sweat.
  • Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting.

According to the CDC, the stroke treatments that work best are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms. If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do the following test. Note the time when any symptoms first appear. This helps health care providers determine the best treatment.

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.