The heart is for caring and feeling, but very few people care for their heart. Statistics show that a large number of Americans are not heeding the advice of their health care professionals to improve their lifestyles, exercise more, stop smoking and watch their diets. The American Heart Association reports that more than 2,600 Americans die each day of cardiovascular disease an average of one death every 33 seconds. D.C. Lack of physical activity is no excuse for putting one's self at risk for heart disease. Recent studies suggest that even walking and many household activities can have a positive effect on the heart.
Physical fitness is free.
It doesn't cost anything to go out and walk or run. In fact, inactive people double the risk of heart disease making them equal to people with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or cigarette smokers, according to Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of the Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York city. If you are not an active person and fall into one of the risk categories, there are symptoms that indicate you may be experiencing a heart attack. They include heavy chest pain, nausea, light-headedness, and cold sweats. When present, this suggests the need for immediate treatment and evaluation by a physician.