‘The serious nature of heart disease’

EXERCISE Physiologists Laney Gale, left, and, Kris Wilhelm, work with patient John Campbell at Providence Cardiac Rehab. Providence also provides financial assistance for those who qualify. Medicare and many commercial and government insurance programs cover Cardiac Rehab Cardiac Rehab is located at 1151 May St., Suite 102, in the building diagonal across from the main hospital. For more information, contact the clinic at 541-387-6326.

Heart Disease remains the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. The American Heart Association reports that on average per year, nearly 750,000 people, both men and women, suffer a heart attack or cardiovascular event.

According to the Center for Disease Control, nearly half of Americans have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity or an unhealthy diet. Fortunately, almost all of these risk factors are controllable through diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle.