According to the American Heart Association, a life is claimed in the United States every 38 seconds by heart disease. Since 1964, February has been the month to bring attention to this leading cause of death globally.
Making healthy lifestyle choices can drastically reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Becoming more active is an important factor in reducing your risk. Benefits of increased activity include preventing bone loss, improved circulation, boosting good cholesterol, reducing blood pressure, and obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight. Lifestyle benefits include an improved mood, retaining mobility longer and keeping illness away.
Diet related changes include eating foods that reduce cholesterol and including fruits, vegetables, fiber rich whole grains, and lean meats. Reducing sugary foods is also beneficial in maintaining heart health.
Managing your blood pressure is an important factor to preventing heart disease. Reducing stress, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing sodium in your diet can contribute to improving blood pressure measurements.
Additional weight that is carried in the midsection may indicate a higher risk of heart disease. Checking your Body Mass Index (BMI) can help you determine if you are overweight.
Smoking also increases the risk for heart disease, and quitting is your best option for reducing that risk. Smoking reduces lung capacity, reduces good cholesterol, and damages your entire circulatory system.
Lastly, reducing blood sugar is another important change to reduce your risk of heart disease. Reducing consumption of sugar in your diet as well as increasing physical activity can contribute to better blood sugar readings.
All of these steps can help reduce your risk for heart disease. For more information on American Heart Month, visit http://heart.org.