February is American Heart Month. Do you know how healthy your heart is? Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. The American Heart Association estimates that 1.2 million Americans will have a first or recurrent heart attack this year. Prevention is the key to decreasing the devastating effects of heart disease for people with and without disabilities, as primary risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, overweight/obesity, and diabetes. Other lifestyle factors that can affect your heart include stress and drinking too much alcohol.

To decrease your risks for heart disease, learn more about determining the amount and intensity of your cardiovascular exercise in this month�s F.I.T.T. column at http://www.ncpad.org/340/1998/How~Much~Is~Enough~~Exercise~and~the~Healthy~Heart.