February is American Heart Month!
During the pandemic many people have avoided going to hospitals for heart attacks and strokes, which can be fatal without immediate treatment. Looking back at the last two years, more people have engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as eating poorly, drinking more alcohol and limiting physical activity that can contribute to heart disease.
Here are 6 tips for a healthy heart:
1- Eat Better
Maintain a balanced diet, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and limit red meat consumption.
2- Maintain Good Weight
Eat well, but not too much. An extra 5 or 10 pounds can lead to an increase risk of heart disease.
3- Don’t Smoke
Smoking raises the risk of heart disease and cancer probably more than any other factor.
4- Stay Active
Work out for 30-60 minutes 5 days a week.
5- Get Enough Sleep
Proper sleep can help you maintain a normal weight and reduce mental stress.
6- Know What To Do If Suspect A Heart Attack
If you think you or someone else may have be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week and getting regular checkups.
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