Sentara Community Health

Will the beat go on?

Take the lead toward keeping your heart healthy. Know your numbers and what you need to do to get to goal. Do you know your blood pressure and cholesterol? What you don't know could hurt you.

As Sentara launches an awareness campaign to focus attention on our nation’s number one cause of death and disability, cardiovascular disease, we encourage you to check with your doctor for a blood pressure and cholesterol reading. Knowing these numbers and reducing your risks for a heart attack could literally save your life!

All adults should have a cholesterol screening every five years, starting at age 20. Blood pressure should be checked every two years after age 18. Since high cholesterol and high blood pressure usually have no warning signs, these screenings are essential.

While other conditions seem to have grabbed the limelight, cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States. It causes one death every 33 seconds in the United States. It remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the prime of life, from age 35 though 74. All of these facts make it especially critical for every person to know their numbers.
 
Why are These Numbers So Important?
So, What Can I Do?
Exercise for Healthy Numbers
Nutrition for Healthy Numbers
Misconceptions About Heart Disease