February is Heart Month and doctors at the University of Louisville Heart Hospital say with heart disease ranked as the.

Leading cause of death in our state, more Kentuckians need to pay attention.

To their heart health.

We checked in with the hospital to learn more about common heart issues.

Who's most at risk and what we can do today to make our own hearts healthier.

We live in a high risk region given the burden of cardiovascular disease around us.

They call them Kentucky for any sort of reason.

The University of Louisville recognizes this and is working hard to improve the landscape because prompt intervention can be lifesaving if you are somebody with a family history of heart disease or if you're a woman who's undergone breast cancer, chemotherapy, or is your woman who has autoimmune conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, that does increase your risk for coronary artery disease later in life.

African-Americans are at increased risk of 30% or more of dying from heart disease.

You know, it's never too young.

Always be aware and alert.

And I think the first thing is education.

Adopting a healthy or a holistic approach to your life.

I think that is very key.

The first thing is diet.

What you eat is what you are.

A vegan diet consisting of whole grains, fruits, vegetables has been associated with the best cardiovascular outcomes.

If you need your animal protein, look up the Mediterranean diet.

There's an abundance of resources online that you can go to.

Number two is physical activity.

Just 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity.

Physical activity is so crucial for maintaining good health.

Three.

Quit smoking.

It's 2024.

The data is indisputable.

It's not worth it.

Four is sleep.

Getting 7 to 9 hours of high quality good sleep every night is very important for your cardiovascular health.

Five is a personal favorite, but one that we often forget.

And that's intentional relaxation.

Knowing your blood pressure, your blood cholesterol, your blood sugar, and your body mass index or BMI, only if you know your risk.

Can you manage your risk.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The University of Louisville Heart Hospital.

Opened in August of 2022.

Since then, it has seen more than 60,000 in-state and out-of-state patients.