Doctors urge heart health focus & lifestyle changes as American Heart Month approaches

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — As we head into February, doctors are reminding patients about the importance of taking care of their heart.

With February being American Heart Month, it brings awareness of not only living a healthy lifestyle but to having more heart defibrillators in public areas.

We spoke with Dr. Ashfaq Turk from the St. Joseph Medical Health System.

“And also American Heart have taken initiative of preventing sudden deaths by putting more defibrillators in public places. Schools, churches, shopping malls, where people have a tendency to collapse,” says Dr. Turk.

According to the CDC, high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease.

Almost half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, putting them at a higher risk of heart disease and also stroke.

Dr. Turk says smoking can play a significant role in heart disease, including marijuana.

“Well, Marijiana is a substance that has its own implications, and anything that goes into your lungs should be normal air, not smoke,” says Dr. Turk.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of heart disease.

Key strategies include exercising regularly, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Turk also says regular check-ups are essential to ensure a patient is living a healthy life.

“Physical examinations and usual visits with your primary physician to get your blood pressure recorded and treated if needed”.

“All of the measures can be done to decrease the risk of heart attack because heart attacks by-enlarge are preventable,” Turk concludes.

Dr. Turk says there is no reason for patients to be screened regularly for heart disease, but living a healthy lifestyle and regular physicals are key factors to reducing the risk.