Prevent heart disease | Medicare

While you’re celebrating with loved ones this Valentine’s Day, don’t forget your heart needs some love, too. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, taking about 647,000 lives each year.

You might not be able to avoid Cupid’s arrow, but you can take steps to help prevent heart disease. Start by scheduling an appointment with your doctor to discuss your risk factors and how to lower them.

Get Preventive Heart Screenings for Early Detection

Medicare covers a cardiovascular disease screening every 5 years at no cost to you. The preventive heart screening includes tests to help detect heart disease early and measures cholesterol, blood fat (lipids), and triglyceride levels. If you’ve had a heart condition, like a heart attack or heart transplant, Medicare covers cardiac rehabilitation programs that include exercise, education, and counseling.

Minimize the Risk Factors for Heart Disease

If you’re at risk for a heart attack or stroke, there are steps you can take to help prevent these conditions. You might be able to make lifestyle changes (like changing your diet and increasing your activity level or exercising more often) to lower your cholesterol and stay healthy.

February is American Heart Month, so give your heart some love by visiting the Million Hearts Learn & Prevent center. Million Hearts is a national initiative to help keep people healthy and improve health outcomes. Here, you can find your possible risk factors for heart disease and resources, like heart-healthy recipes.