Despite medical advances, heart disease remains the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States.

This is a startling reality, especially given how preventable the condition is for those of us who are not genetically predisposed to it. Stress, along with smoking, sedentary habits, and a poor diet are some of the main lifestyle-related risk factors that increase one’s chance of developing the condition.

February is National Heart Disease Awareness Month. So what better time than now to take a hard look at your lifestyle choices?

As an integrative medicine practitioner, I know the importance of stress management for heart health and overall wellness. Here, I'll explain why stress is a risk factor for heart disease and share why meditation is a natural and proven method to mitigate its effects.