Be Good to Your Heart

Take care of your Ticker in February: Healthy Hearts Month

DID YOU KNOW? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.  The good news is heart disease is often preventable when we make healthy eating choices, manage stress, and get regular physical activity.

Limit salt.

Instead, try seasoning your foods with herbs and spices.

Be active.

20 minutes of moderate-intensity movement each day can lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. You can even break that out into two smaller 10-minute bouts if necessary.

Control blood pressure. 

Making regular visits to the doctor’s office is important, even if you’re in good health. Heart Disease is known as the “silent killer” because it often presents with no signs or symptoms: many people with high blood pressure don't know they have it. Schedule your annual visit and talk to your doc about your heart.

Reduce dietary fat intake.

A lower fat diet (25% of overall calories) is shown to support heart health and improve cholesterol levels. Check out these heart healthy recipes for ideas to get started.

Cut the Butts.

Smokers are 2 times more likely to suffer from a cardiac event compared to non-smokers. Read the CDC’s Smoking and Tobacco Use for steps to quit.

Manage Stress.

Try these stress management tips.

Make time for YOU.

Whether building out time with family, taking yourself on a date, or going to visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while, give yourself time each week to take care of the things that are most important to you.

All photos used in this blog post are from our Pt. Bonita YMCA outdoor education programs.