Each year more than one million people in the U.S. suffer a heart attack; almost half of them die. February is American Heart Month – a good time to reassess your own lifestyle.

Know your risk

The American Heart Association offers a free, easy to use, web-based tool to assess your risk of suffering a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease in the next 10 years.

The online assessment takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Simply enter your sex, age, height, weight and blood pressure and you will receive a personal risk estimate that charts your risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.

The silent killer

One in three Americans suffers high blood pressure and may not even know it. While you can’t change risk factors such as sex, age and family history of high blood pressure – you can control four risk factors.

• Poor diet

Remember to keep track of how much sugar, carbohydrates, fat and salt you consume in a day’s time. If salt is a weakness, consider removing the salt shaker from your dinner table.

• Obesity

If you’ve noticed your weight creeping up as a result of football and holiday parties, reassess how much food you put on your plate. Manage portion size by using a smaller plate.

• Minimal physical activity

It’s easy to slack off on exercise during the winter – especially if you live in a cold weather climate. Think about how you can exercise inside – climb stairs, lift soup cans, even household chores such as vacuuming and dusting can get the heart pumping.

• Tobacco and alcohol use

You know the danger from smoking and/or heavy alcohol consumption. Challenge yourself to cut back on tobacco and liquor purchases and use the money saved for something special.

Don’t delay, start today

Eat the right foods, consider taking a dietary supplement, reduce alcohol and tobacco use, and exercise – all healthy behaviors that anyone can do. But act now. According to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, individuals with normal blood pressure at age 55 had a 22 to 41 percent risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The risk of heart disease almost doubled for those who reached mid-life already suffering from high blood pressure.

The gift of life

It takes commitment to maintain a healthy diet and exercise. But remember, the best Valentine’s Day present you can give someone you love is your presence.