February is National Heart Health Month, a time to learn about heart disease and how to keep our hearts strong.
Heart disease refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and its blood vessels. It is the number one cause of death in the U.S. The good news is that most heart problems can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices.
Here are some ways to improve your heart health:
• Move your body each day. This can be as simple as parking further from the door when shopping, walking 10 minutes three times a day, or putting on some of your favorite music and dancing around the house.
• Eat more fruit and vegetables. Fresh, canned, or frozen fruits and vegetables are all good for you. Eating low-fat or fat-free milk products, whole grains, eggs, and lean meats is a must for a healthy heart.
• Reduce your stress. We can’t limit the amount of stress in our lives, but we can change how we react to it. There are several ways to relieve stress including meditation, deep breathing and stretching. Taking a yoga or Taichi class or talking to a professional counselor can be a great way to decrease stress in your life.
• Get enough sleep each night. Good sleep helps the body repair itself and helps you function normally during the day. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are some of the health problems that can be linked to poor sleep.
The Taney County Health Department encourages you to get smart about heart health. Know what causes heart disease, what puts you at risk for it, and how to reduce the risks to protect your heart and keep it strong.
For more information, contact the Taney County Health Department at 417-334-4544, visit our website at www.taneycohealth.org, or like our Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages.
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