February is Heart Month, and there are some key ways you can help avoid cardiac disease. These include exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet with more fruits and vegetables and avoiding fried foods. “You also want to check in with your doctor every year, your primary care doctor, to check on your cholesterol and make sure your blood pressure is okay,” said Dr. Mohan Ashok Kumar, cardiologist, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. “Those are two big things that can affect your heart health down the line.” Dr. Kumar says there is a common misconception about who heart disease impacts. “When you think about heart disease, you think about older people, but we can see heart disease in younger people as well,” he said. “People that tend to have that at a younger age are obese people, people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.” Diet and exercise are the best ways to lose weight, but for those who need extra help due to genetics or endocrine issues, GLP-1 medication, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, can be a valuable tool. With weight loss, your blood pressure and cholesterol often improve too. “Indirectly, it significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease down the line by targeting the underlying cause,” Dr. Kumar said. You can also invest in a blood pressure cuff to monitor your blood pressure at home and visit a doctor if you experience chest pain or tightness, breathing difficulties or palpitations. In partnership with the Seahawks, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is raising awareness about heart health with hospital visits from Blitz and Tyler Lockett. “He’s very passionate about raising awareness about heart health in general,” Dr. Kumar said. The Nick of Time Foundation also holds a free annual young athlete heart screening in March as a way to combat sudden cardiac arrest in young people. Athletes are screened with an EKG and given an ultrasound of the heart if an issue is identified on the EKG. “They can give you a diagnosis right away and then they’ll get follow ups,” Dr. Kumar said. To learn more about the partnership between the Seahawks and VMFH, visit the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health website. Sponsored by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Segment Producer Joseph Suttner. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.