Watch Now: 7 Ways to Love Your Heart More

It was a “Heart-to-Heart on Health” for participants at a community program hosted by Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and held at South Miami Hospital. February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on awareness and education about cardiovascular disease, which remains the nation’s No. 1 cause of death for both men and women.

A team of cardiologists and other healthcare professionals from Baptist Health South Florida were on hand to provide health screenings, nutrition and smoking cessation counseling, as well as a panel discussion on ways to decrease risks for cardiovascular disease. Those in attendance also learned about the dangers of excess sugar in the diet and also indulged in a balanced, low-fat meal with only 559 calories.

Much of the discussion centered around the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7”, a plan for keeping your heart healthy by following these suggestions:

1. Get Active.
2. Control Cholesterol.
3. Eat Better.
4. Manage Blood Pressure.
5. Lose Weight.
6. Reduce Blood Sugar.
7. Stop Smoking.

(SOURCE: American Heart Association)

The American Heart Association estimates that one in three adults has some form of cardiovascular disease. The good news — the organization also believes that 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by lifestyle modifications according to these seven tips.

If you would like to take a Heart Health Risk Assessment click Heart Health Risk Assessment.

The Baptist Health South Florida News Team was there to capture more heart healthy advice from the experts. Watch now! You can also follow the discussion on Twitter using #LoveYourHeartMore.