February is a month for us to think about our hearts and not just on Valentine’s Day – the U.S. celebrates its 57th consecutive American Heart Month this year. President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation in 1964, as he was one of the millions of people in the country who had experienced heart attacks. Heart disease is one of the greatest health threats to Americans and people worldwide.
How Can You Help Your Heart?
There are ways for us to take care of our hearts each and every day. Heart disease is preventable if we can do the following things:
Adopt a healthy lifestyle
- Eat a variety of healthful foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids, and avoid unhealthy foods, including added sugar and sodium
- Minimize alcohol consumption per dietary guidelines
- Avoid smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight for your height
- Control blood sugar and cholesterol
- Engage in moderate-intensity physical activity at least 3-4 times a week
- Get regular medical check-ups
Want More Information to Get Heart Healthy?
The CDC has created several hypertension (AKA high blood pressure) toolkits to boost knowledge about heart disease and to help people learn more about how to control their blood pressure.
Additionally, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute came up with these “25 Ways to Take Part in Heart Month.” Get started now and take care of your heart for your future!
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