February is American Heart Month, a time to remind people that heart disease can happen to those at any age, not just the elderly.

Guthrie County Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Manager Christine Drake says she’s seen a range of patients from 19-90 years old, and she shares one key aspect of preventing heart disease, “We need to do purposeful exercise and that means 150 minutes a week. So 30 minutes, five days a week of moderately intense activity whether it’s walking, running, stationary bicycle– whatever that may be. We need to make healthy food choices, I think one of our big concerns now is the rising rate of obesity in our society and that comes because we have advanced technologies so we don’t have to do the physical things we used to have to do.”

Drake says that ease of access to packaged and fast food can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol. She also says that obesity and heart disease can be traced back to overeating, and she suggests people downsize their plate, rather than filling a large one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three Americans and nearly one in six children has obesity. The CDC also says only one in five adults is getting 150 minutes of exercise per week, and one in 10 adults is eating enough fruits and vegetables a day.