During every American Heart Month celebration, the American Heart Association (AHA) and other organizations place a strong emphasis on the importance of heart health, the need for further research, and the urgency of taking action to ensure that millions of people live longer and in better health.
Heart disease is one of the most common and challenging health problems not only in the United States but also throughout the world. The primary cause of death for the majority of individuals across all ages, genders, and ethnicities is cardiac problems.
Risk factors include having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and drinking too much alcohol. Despite the significant challenges, there have been some positive developments. Numerous heart disease risk factors, including a sedentary lifestyle, a poor diet, and cigarette use, are under your control.
Celebrating American Heart Month, the Healthy Way
In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death. However, there are numerous things you can do to protect your heart. Here are a few things you can do to commemorate American Heart Month in a healthier way.
Make It a Habit
Maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system requires us to be healthy and active, eat a balanced diet, and keep a close eye on our nutrition. Heart disease can be avoided by staying physically active, consuming healthier meals, getting adequate sleep, quitting smoking, and finding productive methods to deal with stress.
The following are some habits you can incorporate into your everyday routine:
- Exercise. Your heart is a muscle which, like your abs or biceps, requires regular exercise to keep healthy. Simple exercises such as walking, running, cycling, and swimming are all good for your heart.
- Balanced Diet. The secret to eating right for your heart health is preparing meals with healthy grains, fruits, and vegetables while rounding out your diet with less dairy, chicken, seafood, and nuts.
- Enough Sleep. Your heart suffers when you don't get enough sleep for your body. Like your body, your heart needs time to relax.
- Limit Alcohol. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can also lower blood pressure. Even before alarming symptoms appear, excessive drinking could cause harm to heart tissue.
- Avoid Secondhand Smoke. The probability of having a heart attack rises due to secondhand smoke's interference with the blood's circulatory system, and arterial organs' normal operation.
Know Your Heart
Understanding fundamental health information and applying it to inform health-related actions and choices for yourself and others is closely linked to improved wellness. Understand the effects of your ideal blood pressure, insulin, weight, and blood sugar levels on your risk for heart disease.
This heart month, you will see more facts and information about your heart. Take advantage of this month and learn for yourself about having a healthy heart and how to care for it.
Here are some facts about heart health:
- Diet soda increases risk of heart attack. Artificially sweetened drinks may be just as harmful for your heart as sugary sodas.
- Compared to men, young women face higher risks.
- Some studies suggest that the morning is the most dangerous period to have a heart attack because heart attacks tend to be more severe during this time.
- Chewing Aspirin rather than swallowing it is recommended because it helps break up blood clots faster, which may be blocking blood flow to the heart and causing heart muscle cells to die.
- It's a smart idea to limit your sitting time on a daily basis. It appears to be very beneficial to your heart health.
Visit A Doctor
Regular heart checkups increase your chances of receiving the proper treatment right away and of receiving a timely diagnosis of any underlying medical issues. You may ensure that you are living a longer, healthier life by scheduling essential health treatments on a regular basis.
A routine check-up with a cardiologist can help you keep track of your heart health if you are at risk for it. Below are a few reasons why frequent heart checks are important:
- Family history. Inherited genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a hereditary heart disease that can affect persons of any age. This illness can cause part or all of the heart muscle to thicken. In severe cases, it can possibly be fatal.
- High blood pressure. Hypertension should be checked on a regular basis beginning around the age of 20. It is essential that you regulate your blood pressure if it is rising or if it has consistently been high.
- High cholesterol. Maintaining cholesterol levels is necessary since it is one of the most major heart disease risk factors.
- Establishing a different workout program. If you are currently inactive, you should consult a doctor before engaging in moderate to high intensity exercise. A cardiologist can assess you for any undiagnosed heart conditions and make sure you don't engage in a workout routine that is too strenuous for your lifestyle.
- Your heart age is older than your actual age. You should be aware of this as soon as possible to minimize further risk because it is a crucial sign of your overall cardiovascular health.
Join for a Cause
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has declared February as Heart Month. The institute has a variety of educational resources connected to heart health that can be circulated or displayed in physical spaces or on social media to help individuals celebrate the month in general.
Fact sheets on various issues, "infocards" promoting heart health for each U.S. state, example social media postings and graphics, articles to share in forums or publications, and more are provided.
Listed below are the following themes each week:
- #SelfcareSunday—For you to create a self-care checklist for the week to help you get back.
- #MindfulMonday—Study your heart data, particularly your blood pressure levels.
- #TastyTuesday—Share a delicious and healthy meal for your heart.
- #WellnessWednesday—Post your workout routine that makes your heart stronger.
- #TreatYourselfThursday—Enjoy a day outside and celebrate your day in a healthy way.
- #FollowFriday—List down and share your inspiration for your healthy heart journey.
- #SelfieSaturday—Be proud of yourself and share personal tips for a healthy heart.
Key Takeaway
In addition to honoring Valentine's Day every February, we also celebrate American Heart Month. This event serves as a reminder to take good care of our hearts. This year, the best gift you can give to your loved ones is a healthy, fit heart.
As we all know, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States alone, which practically affects everyone. There are a variety of ways to keep your heart healthy, such as by eating good-for-the-heart meals and doing cardio exercises.
If you want to have a fit and healthy heart, you can start with simple cardio exercises for beginners, either by starting a gym membership or buying home-gym tools.