February is National Heart Month – Keep Your Heart Healthy

The stress of the pandemic and economic challenges has taken a toll on the emotional and physical health of many. Caring for your cardiovascular health is an important way to counter stress. This includes paying attention to your cardiovascular health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the nation, with about 697,000 people in the United States dying from heart disease in 2020 — that’s one in every five deaths.  

But you can take control of your mental and physical well-being to ensure a happier, healthier and longer life. And taking care of your heart is good for your brain too, because the risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, are also related to brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.  

Ways to keep heart healthy:

• Be active ― Get 20 minutes of physical activity three times a week
• Eat healthy ― The American Heart Associations’ Heart-Check mark makes it easy to spot heart-healthy foods in the grocery store or when dining out.
• Control blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol
• Keep a healthy weight
• Don’t smoke or vape
• Get regular checkups/physicals and get your heart checked (EKG, stress test or Holter monitor)
• Learn CPR to help save a life 
• Find ways to relax and ease your mind ― prayer, meditation, yoga