Heart Disease Awareness Month: Cardiologists discuss steps to help your heart

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Dr. Alex Harrison, a cardiologist at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria says heart disease is a serious problem.

"Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women across the United States and also worldwide ... and a lot of that is highly preventable," says Harrison.

Even though the pandemic has been the main focus for doctors, Harrison says American Heart Month is a reminder that people still need to get a checkup before it’s too late.

“it is very easy to seek a routine preventative care and lab work once a year to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar and cholesterol and identify these things and treat them early on before they cause serious heart problems,” says Harrison.

Health experts hope people will seek routine care so they can be treated early on, ultimately reducing the number of heart disease patients.

"We want to make sure that no matter what time of year, you’re always welcome to come in. We’re always going to be here to help," says RN Taylor Reder of Marian Regional Medical Center.

"Especially in a pandemic. People should not fear coming to seek routine medical care," says Harris.