Tackling heart health

Over the past 2 years, we have been surrounded by an overwhelming
amount of information about the COVID-19 pandemic. From vaccines
to the development of new variants, it’s easy to get caught up in the
moment and forget there are other aspects of our health we need to take care
of, such as our heart.

February is American Heart Month, and according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in every 5 female deaths in the United
States is from heart disease, which is the leading cause of death of US
women.¹ Additionally, cardiovascular disease accounted for the highest
percentage of total deaths for all subgroups of women in 2018, according
to the American Heart Association.²

American Heart Month serves as a reminder for health care providers
to not only provide the best care possible to their patients but also
prioritize their own health. It can be easy to forget to care for yourself
both physically and mentally, especially during a pandemic. Some heart-healthy tips to reduce your risk of heart disease include limiting your
alcohol consumption, managing your stress levels, making healthy food
choices, and if you smoke, quitting smoking.¹

For our February issue, Contemporary OB/GYN hopes to bring back the focus on heart health with a featured peer-reviewed article on statin use in midlife women. This comprehensive article tackles risk assessment of cardiovascular disease in women and provides tips on lifestyle counseling, medication management, and the adverse effects of using statins to help physicians provide optimal care to their patients and their own heart health.

Mike Hennessy Jr

President and CEO, MJH Life Sciences