February is American Heart Health Month, and this month we are focusing on heart health for both men and women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable. Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this often, silent killer. Today we will talk about women and heart disease, heart failure as well as the link between diabetes and heart disease with Mercy Medical Heart Center experts Michelle Amos, RN, MSN and Kim Swast, RN.

L-R: Brad White, R. Ph. and Paul White, R. Ph. discuss women's heart health with Mercy Heart Center's Kim Swast, RN and Michelle Amos, RN, MSN.

As the number one killer of women, cardiovascular diseases, which include stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds, according to the American Heart Association's Valerie Stutler. In fact, today heart disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined. This forces us to consider that a woman we know and love may be affected at any age.

L-R: Health Matters hosts and pharmacists, Brad and Paul White with Valerie Stutler, social events coordinator for the Canton office of the American Heart Association.