February is American Heart Month. It’s a good annual reminder about the most important ways you can keep your heart healthy and avoid behaviors that could cause problems.
Here are five things you can do all year long to maintain good heart health, and help someone close to you who may need assistance.
Get an annual physical.
Do you know if you have a healthy blood pressure? Is your cholesterol level in a good range? An annual physical your primary care physician will let you know if both of these factors are in a healthy range or if you need to take steps to improve them. If you are concerned about your blood pressure, come see us at Lakes Urgent Care for an accurate reading and assessment. Here’s a guide to understanding blood pressure readings.
Don’t smoke.
Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and stroke. If you smoke, now is a good time to quit. Easier said than done, we know. But there are a variety of smoking cessation programs you can try. And if it doesn’t work the first time, try again.
Eat a heart healthy diet.
Eating a more plant-based, lower sodium diet is the best way to promote good heart health. Many of the highly processed foods found on grocery store shelves contain a high level of sodium. Check the label before you buy it. Remember that your average daily sodium consumption should not exceed 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day.
Get some exercise every day.
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body. Daily exercise is the best way you can help your heart stay healthy. Even moderate exercise, such as daily walking is beneficial. If you are more ambitious, using a treadmill or rowing machine is a great way to keep your heart strong. Improve your motivation to exercise by involving friends – plan walks in the park with a group, or a pickup game of disc golf or pickleball.
Learn CPR.
Cardiac arrest can strike anytime, anywhere — at home, at work, or at the grocery store. But right now, only about 40% of people step in to help. That means too many lives are lost, not because people don’t care, but because they aren’t prepared.
Knowing how to practice immediate CPR for someone experiencing cardiac arrest can “double or even triple someone’s chance of survival,” according to the American Medical Association. The American Red Cross has training classes so that you can be prepared to help in an emergency – Find an American Red Cross CPR training course near you.