Proper nutrition plays an important role in overall health and wellness. It is also a powerful tool for building a resilient cardiovascular system and battling heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Nutrition Month in March aims to highlight the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits.

Anabel Facemire, MD, FACC, a cardiologist with Dignity Health Medical Group — Sierra Nevada, shares important nutrition reminders that can contribute to good health and lower your risk for heart disease.

American Heart Month in February is a time to take stock of our heart health and the factors that contribute to heart disease. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? One of every four deaths is attributed to heart disease, making it a significant health concern for Americans.

The good news is that heart disease can be prevented. With increased awareness about heart disease and the factors that affect heart health, decreasing the risk of heart disease is possible. We turned to Anabel Facemire, MD, a cardiologist with Dignity Health Medical Group — Sierra Nevada to better understand heart disease.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., impacting both men and women, and most racial and ethnic groups. While high blood pressure and high cholesterol are key risk factors for heart disease, so too are external factors like trauma and stress.

Catharine Malmsten, MD, a Cardiologist at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group in Elk Grove, shares her insight on how stress and heart health correlate, along with advice on how we can combat stressors in our lives to remain healthy, especially during a pandemic.

For people with underlying heart conditions, monitoring your health is incredibly important, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group clinics are safe and open for in-person visits so you don't need to delay your cardiac care.

Zachary Brewer, MD, a cardiac surgeon with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group explains how to identify one of the most common and serious heart valve problems, aortic valve disease, or aortic stenosis. Aortic valve disease refers to severe narrowing or restriction of the aortic heart valve’s opening, reducing blood flow in the heart.

Munir S. Janmohamed, MD, advanced heart failure cardiologist and medical director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support/Heart Failure Program with Mercy Medical Group, has experienced first-hand how virtual visits expand patient care. Through virtual visits, Dr. Janmohamed has been able to help patients manage chronic heart failure, improve their symptoms, and in some cases, prevent hospitalization.