SANTA FE — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and most racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. and the leading cause of death of New Mexicans in 2022.
This February we are encouraging New Mexicans to take steps to protect their heart health,” Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for the New Mexico Department of Health, said.
High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. In New Mexico, 31.8% of the population had high blood pressure in 2021.
There are steps New Mexicans can take to lower their risk of high blood pressure and heart disease:
- Eat healthy: Choose healthy meal and snack options including plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as foods high in fiber and protein. Avoid too much salt and saturated fat.
- Keep yourself at a healthy weight: Being overweight increases your risk of high blood pressure.
- Be physically active: Every week adults should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or bicycling.
- No smoking: Smoking, even occasionally, raises your blood pressure and puts you at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
- Limit alcohol intake: Too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure.
- Get enough sleep: Getting a healthy amount of sleep, seven to eight hours a night, helps keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.
