Celebrate American Heart Month in February!
2/12/2026
February is American Heart Month – the perfect time to remember that caring for your cardiovascular system is one of the best ways to increase the length, and quality, of your life.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States – but you can take solid steps to reduce your risk.
“Some heart conditions are genetic, but the vast majority of people can prevent heart disease with healthy lifestyle habits,” says Northwest Healthcare cardiologist Eliza Panczyk, M.D., who treats patients in both Tucson and Sahuarita. “Two of the best measures are avoiding tobacco products, and cutting down or quitting alcohol. If you smoke, this is a great time to quit. If you drink more than a moderate amount, you heart will thank you for cutting back.”
In addition to avoiding tobacco and alcohol, Dr. Panczyk says, it’s wise to add some things to your life, as well – including lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and daily exercise.
“Simply walking for 30 minutes a day is a gift to your heart.” she says. “It’s OK to start slow, and add in other activities you enjoy – like gardening, pickleball, bicycling, or yoga. The best exercise is the one you’ll do regularly. Any form of consistent physical activity will help manage your weight, control your blood sugar and cholesterol, and fight high blood pressure.”
The best way to keep your heart healthy in the future is to check in with a primary care provider and see how it’s doing right now. If you’ve been putting off your annual check-up, Northwest Healthcare offers convenient online scheduling at https://www.nwalliedphysicians.com/family-medicine-care and https://www.nwalliedphysicians.com/internal-medicine-care.
To learn more about how Northwest Healthcare’s cardiovascular specialists may be able to help you with preventive and routine cardiac care, as well as with chronic conditions, click here. For a quick quiz to get an idea of how healthy your heart may be – and its real age, given your lifestyle and risk factors – visit https://www.healthiertucson.com/cardiac-care.
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