Lifestyle Changes Can Help Prevent a Heart Attack
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the #5 cause of death in the United States.
One of the biggest contributors to these statistics is a lack of commitment to a heart healthy lifestyle. Your lifestyle is not only your best defense against heart disease and stroke, it’s also your responsibility. A heart-healthy lifestyle includes the ideas listed below. By following these simple steps you can reduce all of the modifiable risk factors for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Prevention and Treatment of Heart Attacks
The time to reduce your risks for heart disease is always NOW!
The American Heart Association recommends that heart disease prevention begins early in life. This means assessing your risk factors and working to keep them low. For those over 40, or those with multiple risk factors, it’s important to calculate the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years. Many first-ever heart attacks or strokes are fatal or disabling, so prevention is critical. The sooner you begin comprehensive risk reduction, the longer and stronger your heart will beat.
Some simple steps you can take today to help reduce your risk for heart disease or heart attack include:
- Choosing healthy eating habits everyday
- Including some physical activity in your daily life
- Doing your best to manage your stress levels
- Knowing and maintaining your blood pressure + cholesterol levels within healthy ranges
Healthy Recipe of the Month:
Butternut Squash Soup
Click here for the full recipe! From American Heart Association
Need more guidance when it comes to healthier food + meal choices? Need tips on menu planning + grocery shopping? Visit choosemyplate.gov!
Health Facts of the Month
Did You Know?
- Number of adults in the U.S. with diagnosed heart disease = 28.1 million
- Research has shown that daily physical activity as simple as walking for at least 30 minutes can have a significant impact on your health by lowering your chances of developing heart disease
For more information and resources on heart health, visit the American Heart Association
Wellness Webinar:
New Year, New You
When the optimism of New Year’s Resolutions start to fade, our motivation to make healthier changes in our lives tend to meet a dead end. During this 30-minute webinar, we will discuss ways that you can reinvent yourself all year-round, one step at a time.