February is...

American Heart Month
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about every one minute one will die from one.

The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack or stroke in the future.

Physical Therapy A better choice for pain treatment, according to Americas Heart's statement, is physical therapy, exercise, weight oss, and heat and cold therapy. It is better to be conservative by using physical therapy and other pain relieving methods first to avoid potential risk to the heart that may be associated with certain medications. Another reason patients with heart disease may benefit from physical therapy is that staying active is key to a healthy heart. Physical therapy is a good way to maintain or improve mobility. With a hands-on exam, diagnosis, and treatment, physical therapists can treat many kinds of pain and infammation in patients of all ages, give fitness advice, and assistance to promote overall wellness.