February is American Heart Month.  This month focuses attention on heart disease, from learning about signs and symptoms to decreasing your risk factors.  According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women.  The statistics are alarming. 1 person dies every 34 seconds of heart disease and every 40 seconds someone has a heart attack. In other words, every year 697,000 Americans die of heart disease and 805,000 Americans experience a heart attack.  However, did you know that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable? Regular physical activity, a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco use, and managing common medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood sugar, or diabetes are all very important factors to minimize the risk of heart disease.