D’Amico Encourages Residents to Review Personal Health During Heart Month

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is encouraging residents to take steps toward heart health in the remaining days of American Heart Month this February.

“Citizens should make sure they are making healthy choices for themselves and their families by researching heart health,” D’Amico said. “Heart disease affects all families and can happen at any age, so we should understand how to mitigate the risk of this devastating condition.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for every 1 in 4 deaths, and that risk factors are increasing for younger people. Risk factors for heart disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, overuse of alcohol, obesity, smoking and tobacco use, and poor dieting.

To help prevent heart disease, D’Amico is urging residents to make sure they eat foods low in added sugar, sodium, saturated and trans fats, avoid smoking, maintain minimum exercise, and work with their doctors and health care professionals to manage conditions that are risk factors for heart disease.

“We all need to be proactive in taking care of our health,” said D’Amico. “Exercising at home or the gym, eating better foods, and visiting a doctor regularly are all positive steps someone can take towards a healthier life.”