Support Your Heart During American Heart Month
Did you know that we celebrate American Heart Month every February? American Heart Month is a time to raise awareness about heart disease and ways we’re able to prevent it.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. The good news is, though, that our cardiovascular health is largely in our control. Lifestyle habits, like our food choices and activity levels, contribute greatly to our heart health.
Read more to learn tips on how to support your heart health. By incorporating some of these tips into your lifestyle, you can help manage your blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart diseases.
Tips to a Healthy Heart
Stay Active: Incorporating exercise into your routine at least three or four times a week offers numerous health benefits, including lowered blood pressure and a stronger heart. Aerobic activities engage your heart for long periods of time, proving to be among the most effective exercises for heart health.
Maintain a Healthy Diet: Healthy eating is essential to your overall wellbeing and can help support a heart-healthy lifestyle. One eating plan specifically designed with the goal to lower blood pressure is Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH. This plan, promoted by The American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic, emphasizes fruit, vegetables and reduced sodium.
Get a Full Night’s Sleep: Studies show that short and fragmented sleep is linked to hardened arteries. It’s recommended to get a solid seven to eight hours of sleep a night for overall wellness, including heart health.
Relax: Stress affects factors that increase the risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, irregular heart rhythms and damage to your arteries. Learning to respond to stress in a healthy way, such as practicing meditation and learning relaxation exercises, will help you relax and minimize damage to your body.
Stop Smoking: When it comes to heart health, smoking is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease. This form of heart disease is when plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries, which narrows the arteries and reduces the blood flow to your heart muscle.
For any health concern or lifestyle change, consult with your doctor to ensure you’re on the path to a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to heart health, make an annual trip to the doctor to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Discuss healthy lifestyle habits that can help you maintain heart health and be sure to talk to your doctor if you find your stress is overwhelming.
Learn More About the Healthy Lifestyle Offered at Crestwood Manor
At Crestwood Manor, we help you achieve a healthy lifestyle through LivWell, our award-winning, holistic wellness program. This program touches on all seven dimensions of wellness and is personalized to your specific goals and strengths. Talk with one of our team members to learn ways you’re able to increase your heart health right within our community.
For more information, contact us today.
