February is Heart Health Month

National Heart Health Month

Did you know February is Heart Health Month? 

Well, maybe you did – I’ve mentioned it before.

And it’s worth mentioning again. After all, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. Yup,  1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.  1 in 4 – hard to believe right?

But there’s good news – heart disease can often be prevented. When people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions heart disease can likely be prevented.

So what can you do? Start making smart choices. Unhealthy behaviors such as poor eating habits and lack of exercise take a toll on your health. Trust me – you will benefit from making some simple changes. And it’s never too late. You will reap the rewards of living a healthy lifestyle no matter what your age!

Start with small changes to improve your health. Easy for me to day right? So where to begin? Here are some tips to help get you started:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. And for that matter – more whole grains and other plant-based foods.
• Get moving! Aim for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
• Quit smoking and tobacco use. And if you don’t smoke, don’t start.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Even a small amount of weight loss is beneficial.
• Get your z’s.  Not getting enough sleep increases your risk of  disease.
• Manage stress. Meditation or physical activity can help improve your health.
• Get regular health screenings. Monitor blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

And yes, there are some things you can’t control such as family history, age, gender and ethnicity – all things that increase your risk of heart disease. So why not control the things you can change?

How have you taken control of your heart health?