Simple Steps Can Reduce Risk of Heart Disease! (pkg.)

Cardiovascular

Simple Steps Can Reduce Risk of Heart Disease! (pkg.)

By
Dana Sparks

January 30, 2013

NOTE: Join #heartchat Wed. Feb. 13 @ 12:30 p.m. ET. Moderated by TIME magazine health reporter Alice Park w/ experts from MayoClinic, AHA and WomenHeart. Click here for news release

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women, and since February is American Heart Month, it's especially important to highlight some simple steps to heart health.
Mayo Clinic cardiologists offer these tips:

Martha Grogan, M.D., medical editor-in-chief of Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life!, says, “When I tell people that almost 80 percent of heart disease is preventable, they are surprised. Better yet, there are daily things we all can do that can make a big difference in our effort to keep our hearts healthy.”
Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and depression, according to Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D., cardiologist and sleep expert. He says, “Sleep is a necessity, like food and water. It’s not a luxury.”
A sedentary lifestyle may increase your risk of heart attack almost as much as smoking can. Preventive cardiologist Randal Thomas, M.D., uses the example of a 53-year-old male smoker with high blood pressure. Dr. Thomas says that smoker has a 20 percent chance of having a heart attack over the next 10 years.

Video, script and extra sound bites are available in the downloads above. This pkg. can be edited into vo/sots and incorporated into your local reporting.

To interview Drs. Grogan, Somers or Thomas contact:
Traci Klein
507-284-5005
newsbureau@mayo.edu