Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Act today and follow these steps from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (OASH) for a healthier heart:
- Know your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose numbers. Get checked and talk with your doctor about taking control!
- Talk with your doctor about:
- Your family history
- Medication to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke
- Eat heart healthy foods:
- More:
- High fiber such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
- ‘Good’ fats: avocados, nuts, salmon, and sardines
- Less:
- Sugar and salt
- Fatty meats (like beef or pork) and full fat dairy
- More:
- Limit alcohol intake to 1-2 drinks per day.
- Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight, consider a goal of losing just 5-10% of your body weight to lower your risk of heart disease.
- Get active: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
- Quit smoking and stay away from second-hand smoke. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free support or Big Bend Area Health Education Center (Big Bend AHEC) at 1-850-224-1177 for the Quit Your Way program.
- Manage stress with meditation, deep breathing, or journaling.
- Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
Make your heart-healthy action plan today! For more information, go to https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/heart-health