The Pulse, February 2021
Your heart is one of your most essential organs. Yet, people often don’t live the healthy lifestyle needed to keep their heart healthy. Heart disease is even the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States.
You can show your heart (and yourself!) some love by making healthy changes to lower your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.
Know Your Risk
Did you know about half of all Americans have at least one of three risk factors for heart disease?
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or if you smoke, you’re more likely to develop heart disease. This puts you at a greater risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other serious health problems. Other factors that can increase your risk include obesity, age and family history.
Show Your Heart Some Love
You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk of developing heart disease, you can:
Get Active: Physical activity is an important part of heart health. Not only does it promote weight loss, but it can also help lower your blood pressure and high cholesterol. The Surgeon General recommends adults get at least two hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week.
Keep a Healthy Weight: Carrying extra weight increases your risk of heart disease. Attaining a healthy weight will not only help your heart but will also improve your overall wellness.
Eat Healthy: Eating foods high in fiber and low in saturated and trans fats can help prevent high cholesterol. Limiting your salt and sugar intake can also help lower blood pressure and prevent diabetes. It’s also important to limit your alcohol intake.
Quit Tobacco: Smoking is a major cause of heart disease. When you smoke, you raise the fat in your blood, making it difficult for your blood to flow freely; therefore, increasing your blood pressure. By quitting tobacco, you greatly reduce your risk of heart disease.
Reference:
CDC-Heart Disease
