Heart Health

Do you have two minutes for your heart?

From Valentines Day to Heart Health awareness month, February is all about hearts. While we may be celebrating love, it is important to take some time for self-love when it comes to heart health.

Over half of all heart attacks occur in people who do not see themselves as high risk.

According to Alanna Morris-Simon, MD, MSc, an advanced heart failure cardiologist and Senior Medical Director of Cardiovascular and Renal at Bayer, , risk factors fall into two categories: those you cannot change (non-modifiable) and those you can (modifiable).

Risk Factors You Can (and Cannot) Control

Risk factors you can control include things like diet, how much you exercise and sleep. Chronic stress and substance use (tobacco , alcohol, and other drugs) are also big risk factors. The risk factors you cannot control include race, ethnicity, gender, and family history. This is why it is so critical we keep a pulse on our heart health and aim to better understand our risk factors.

Family history is a factor you cannot change, as are age, gender, race, and ethnicity. “Some heart disease risk factors are genetic, such as familial high cholesterol or family history of early-onset heart attacks or sudden death,” Morris-Simon says. “It is important to be aware of these, as well as other existing conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and to make your doctor aware.

Alanna Morris-Simon, MD, MSc

Advanced heart failure cardiologist and Senior Medical Director of Cardiovascular and Renal at Bayer

120 Seconds for Heart Health

At Bayer, we believe that awareness is crucial in the fight against cardiovascular disease.
To help patients understand their risk factors and have more informed conversations with their doctor, take the Bayer Aspirin® Heart Health Risk Assessment to learn about your personal heart-health risk factors, at See Your Risks.com.* Once you understand your risk factors, it’s important to have an open conversation with your doctor to ensure you’re getting the right testing at the right frequency to stay on top of your numbers.

This February and beyond, taking these simple steps can help you keep a pulse on your heart health.

*Does not replace an assessment by a qualified health care professional about your health.