Heart Month: Support Your Heart Health to Save Your Life!

How to support your heart health and why it matters.

Did you know that February is Heart Month? This means it’s the perfect time to learn about heart disease and what we can do to prevent it and live our healthiest lives!

Heart health is so important for all of us to be aware of, but especially women, as symptoms are often vague and overlooked.  Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year. But, the good news that that 80% of heart disease can be prevented! We will get to healthy lifestyle tips, but let’s first talk about the why.

Why it matters?

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US.  The most common form of heart disease is called Coronary Artery Disease, which is a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which narrows or blocks the artery, decreasing the amount of life-sustaining blood that can flow through. This can lead to Congestive Heart Failure and irregular heart rhythms.

Taking care of our hearts can decrease stroke, heart attacks and high blood pressure, while improving our quality of life and longevity!

Heart Healthy Tips

Move your body

Move your body each and every day.  Walking is great! Working up a sweat and strength training are good for your heart while also supporting a healthy weight-important for decreasing risk as well. Incorporate more movement into every day by taking the stairs, walking during meetings, have a quick dance party or stretch break, or commit to small 5 minute workouts whenever you can! You can find more helpful tips here.

Manage Stress

Managing our stress is so important for keeping blood pressure under control, which decreases the risk for heart attack and stroke.  Meditation, physical movement, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet can all help manage stress.  You can find more helpful tips here.

Eat more real, whole foods

Eating more veggies, fruits, plants, nuts, nut butters (this is my favorite + use code NWW for 20% off your order), seeds for fiber, protein like sustainable seafood, and healthy fats (use code NWW for 10% off) like avocado and olive oil, while eating less processed, sugar-laden foods will significantly decrease your risk for heart related diseases! In fact, it may be the most powerful thing you can do for your health. It also decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL), further supporting heart health.

Please talk with your health care team about a personalzied plan

These tips can help you prevent or manage heart disease and other chronic illness.  Please speak with your health care team for a plan that is personalized to you.

If you’d like more support for healthy lifestyle changes such as these, book a free call with me and join us for my Spring Into Clean Eating 5-day Reset!

>>> Comment below and tell me what you’ll do today to help support your heart!