February is American Heart Month.

February is also Cancer Prevention Awareness Month.

So this month, most of my articles/posts will address several things related to both disease classes.

One – preventing or significantly reducing the risk of getting these diseases is much easier, less painful, and less time-consuming than treating them.

Two – many lifestyle factors address both diseases (and others too). So doing things in your life, such as exercising regularly and eating healthier, will reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Three – don’t “wait” until a diagnosis to consider these lifestyle factors. I’ve known people who are waiting for the results of a biopsy to address lifestyle changes. No, when the biopsy is taken but waiting for the results. Which I genuinely don’t understand.

Four – heart disease is not one single disease, but a whole bunch of different conditions that affect the heart. Having just one is considered heart disease. And cancer is not a single disease but a general umbrella term for many diseases. Treatments for both heart disease and cancer vary based on which one you have.

Let me dive deeper into this point four.

HEART DISEASE

Heart disease is better called cardiovascular disease. This term means that it includes the heart and the blood vessels of the entire body.

I tell people to think of the blood vessels as the roads in our bodies. Major highways, state roads, surface streets, and side roads exist. And there can be problems in any of these roads, and there can be problems in the blood vessels of your body. Potential issues can include down to your toes to your brain. So problems in one of these areas can cause “minor” issues to be significant and potentially catastrophic issues.

Heart disease is not one single disease, but a whole bunch of different conditions that affect the heart.

Some forms of heart disease include heart attack (also called myocardial infarction or MI), cardiac arrest, high blood pressure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and even blood clots.

That’s a lot.

Most people think of heart attacks as heart disease. However, I see many people with high blood pressure, which can lead to many complications.

People don’t realize that diabetes, especially untreated or uncontrolled diabetes, is a significant risk factor for heart disease, independent of other heart disease risks.

Heart disease is a whole group of diseases.

CANCER

Many people know that cancer is a whole group of diseases. From breast cancer to prostate cancer, lung and colon cancer, and cancers literally from head to toe, cancer can affect many parts of the body.

Risk varies by the individual. Family history is part of it. Environmental factors are another. Lifestyle factors also have a significant role in risk. And, other ways, here is a non-medical reason, just bad luck. This “bad luck” means we don’t know precisely why some people get certain types of cancer.

Family history is part of the risk, but not as much as people think. Many women are surprised to learn that only about 15 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history. So, if you have a family history, stay on top. And if you don’t know known family history, guess what? It would be best if you stayed on top of things.

Lung cancer affects people who do not smoke.

Skin cancer affects people with dark skin too.

Colon cancer affects people under the age of 50.

Cancer can affect anyone, present in virtually any part of the body, and cancers are treated differently based on many factors.

Some cancer can be cut out or removed and require no further treatment, especially when it is detected and addressed early.

Some cancers are cut out or removed but also have attempted to spread to other sites, so additional treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, may be needed.

Some cancers are so aggressive and fast-moving OR in a site where the person cannot safely have it removed, so interventions include treatment or managing its growth.

Cancer is not one disease. It is a group of conditions, and treatments are different based on which one it is and many other factors.

To suggest there is a “cure” for cancer is absurd and shows ignorance. Truly.

Consider if you went to the doctor if you are sick – they treat each illness differently.

If you went in complaining of chronic headaches, it would be ridiculous to get antibiotics.

If you were having chest pain, it would be ridiculous to get antibiotics.

If you were there for an overall checkup, it would be ridiculous to get antibiotics.

We treat various diseases differently – and we treat each cancer differently.

MINIMIZING YOUR RISKS

With both heart disease and most cancers, there are many things we can do to minimize our risk.

What I consider a ‘nice’ thing is that a lot of the recommendations for one chronic health issue fit for several.

Not smoking or using tobacco products is a recommendation to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Minimizing excess weight, specifically excess body fat, is recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. (Note: even people of “healthy” body weight can still have heart disease and cancer.)

Eating a high number of fruits and vegetables – a diet rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals naturally found in foods, not supplements, reduces the risk for heart disease and cancer.

Choosing plant-based protein, lean animal protein, and fatty fish reduces the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

None of this is a new recommendation. But unfortunately, people don’t often pay attention until after diagnosis.

Think risk reduction and prevention now, no matter your current health status.

Continue to follow this blog series this month. If you want a weekly update of blogs post, sign up for my weekly email to get the links directly.