Take Action Now to Protect Your Heart

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             February 6, 2025

JACKSON, Miss. - Heart disease is the leading cause of death in our state, killing 8,000 annually, but that doesn’t mean we are doomed to develop it. In recognition of American Heart Month, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is stressing the importance of following a simple blueprint to lower your risk factors and live a longer life.

Regardless of your age, taking these steps can help lower your risk of heart disease:

• Quit smoking: Quitting tobacco is the best first step in improving heart health. Call the Mississippi Tobacco Quit Line for help: (800) QUIT-NOW.

• Move more: Get a few minutes of brisk physical activity whenever you can.

• Eat smart: Choose more vegetables and fruits than meats and sweets.

• See your doctor yearly: This can detect problems early.

• Know your numbers and get them to healthy levels. The four health numbers you should know are blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index.

“There are a lot of things we cannot control, but lowering our risk of heart disease is not one of them,” said Dr. Dan Edney, MSDH Executive Director and State Health Officer. “This is not a list Mississippians want to be No. 1 on. Let’s not stay there. Let’s do better, eat better, move more, and know your numbers, so we can live longer.”

There was a 3.3 percent increase in heart disease-related deaths in the state from 2013-2022. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors, of which 47 percent of Americans have at least one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other factors can also increase your risk, including diabetes, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use.

The 2023 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey reported that about one-third of Mississippians had no physical activity outside of work in the past 30 days. The state ranked second in the nation with obesity prevalence of 40 percent; 71.3 percent of adults 18 years or older are overweight or obese. Black men have made the greatest strides in the state with heart disease mortality, down by 2.3 percent over the last 10 years, while mortality among white men increased by 5.8 percent. For women overall, the rate increased by 1.8 percent. For help lowering your risk, visit msdh.ms.gov/hearthealth

You are also encouraged to take your fitness routine up a notch by participating in the Fitness February Webinar Series each Thursday this month at Noon for an hour of high intensity discussions with leading health experts and community advocates. See the attached flyer for a list of speakers and registration details for the event, organized by the Jackson Heart Study Community Engagement Center.

Download our mobile app for free in Apple and Android stores under MSDH Healthy App.

Stay up to date on news and updates on the MSDH Healthy Mobile App, on our website  www.msdh.ms.gov. , and on social media facebook.com/healthyms, twitter.com/msdh and Instagram.com/healthy.ms