Rep. Conroy Highlights 50th Anniversary of American Heart Month to Combat Heart Disease

VILLA PARK, Ill. –State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, is urging constituents to join her and the American Heart Association in raising awareness of heart disease for the 50th Anniversary of American Heart month this February.

“Today I want to stress the importance of leading a heart-healthy lifestyle and knowing the risk factors of heart disease,” said Conroy. “Heart disease remains our number one health threat in Illinois, and we all need to take action to lead healthier lives.  I am proud to support the work of the American Heart Association.”

Risk factors of heart disease include: diabetes, obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, not eating right, and smoking.

According to the American Heart Association, since the early 1960s, annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases have dropped by nearly 1 million per year – and that’s while the nation’s population has grown by more than 129 million.

“By making a few dietary and lifestyle changes folks can greatly reduce their risk of developing heart disease,” Conroy said. “Over the course of the last 50 years we have made progress fighting this deadly disease, however, there is still more work to be done.”

For more information on preventing heart disease, visit www.goredforwomen.org, or visit www.heart.org/centralil.