A Healthy Heart for a Healthy Life

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States of America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 700,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year. February is American Heart Month and TRICARE encourages all beneficiaries to reduce their risks for developing heart disease.

            American Heart Month is the perfect time to learn about cardiovascular health and risk factors and warning signs of heart disease. It’s also a great time to evaluate lifestyle choices to ensure a healthy heart.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) lists six key steps to help reduce the risk of having a heart attack:

    * Stop smoking
    * Lower high blood pressure
    * Reduce high cholesterol
    * Aim for a healthy weight
    * Be physically active each day
    * Manage diabetes

Stop Smoking
            Smoking cigarettes significantly increases the risk of heart attacks in men and women. Talking with a primary care manager (PCM) to develop an action plan will help ensure success in efforts to quit smoking and the Department of Defense has a program that is only a click away online. The Web site http://www.ucanquit2.org provides resources to help with quitting, every step of the way. In February, the site is targeting smokeless tobacco during “Through With Chew Week,” Feb. 15-21 and the “Great American Spit Out” on Feb. 19.

Lower High Blood Pressure
            High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, forces the heart to work harder and increases the risk of developing heart disease, as well as kidney disease and stroke. To help prevent or control high blood pressure, the NIH recommends losing excess weight, exercising regularly, following a heart-healthy eating plan that includes foods lower in salt and sodium, limiting alcohol intake, and taking prescribed medication.

Reduce High Cholesterol
High cholesterol can also be reduced with a healthy eating plan, exercise and shedding excess weight. If these are not enough to lower the cholesterol level, there are medications that may help.

Aim for a Healthy Weight
            For anyone who is overweight, there is an increased chance of having a heart attack. According to the NIH, even a 10 percent weight loss can help lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.  For losing excess weight, TRICARE recommends beneficiaries talk with their PCM about developing a healthy and successful plan.
Visit http://www.tricare.mil/getfit for information and links to better nutrition, exercise and more.

Be Physically Active Each Day
            The NIH suggests 30 minutes of a moderate-intensity exercise on most days, preferably each day of the week. Exercise reduces the risk of heart-related problems, including heart attacks. Exercise can also improve cholesterol levels, help control high blood pressure and manage weight and can help control diabetes. TRICARE suggests beneficiaries talk with their PCM before starting an exercise program. Visit http://www.health.gov/paguidelines to find out more about physical activity guidelines for Americans.

Manage Diabetes
            The same lifestyle changes that reduce high cholesterol, blood pressure and excess weight will also help manage diabetes. Diabetes affects more than 16 million Americans, and up to 75 percent of those with diabetes develop heart disease.

            Visit http://www.americanheart.org or http://www.cdc.gov/HeartDisease for more information about heart health. Starting in February, make every month American Heart Month for a healthy life.

About TRICARE Management Activity and the Military Health System
TRICARE Management Activity, the Defense Department activity that administers the health care plan for the uniformed services, retirees and their families, serves more than 9.2 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide in the Military Health System (MHS). The mission of the MHS is to enhance Department of Defense and national security by providing health support for the full range of military operations. The MHS provides quality medical care through a network of providers, military treatment facilities, medical clinics and dental clinics worldwide.  For more about the MHS go to www.health.mil.