It's Worth a Share

Digging through my office emails for this week. And I am sharing with you one good read here.

Are there heart problems in your family tree?

Are you at risk?

YOU put your HE♥RT into everything you do, so you’ve got to keep it healthy. But heart health doesn’t come naturally for many of us. In fact, each year heart disease KILLS more people than any other cause, around the world.  Clearly, we need to take better care of our tickers! 

Are there heart problems in your family tree?

Some types of heart disease are hereditary — they run in families. Others are caused by unhealthy habits, such as lack of exercise, smoking or a poor diet. Not all types of heart disease are an emergency, but they’re all serious. Talk to your doctor as soon as you can if you think you might be at risk for a heart condition.

Healthy heart actions you can start today.

After all your heart does for you, don’t you think it deserves a little TLC?

• Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of blood-pumping exercise each day. Whether you go for a long run or take a few short walks, any activity that gets your heart beating faster is good.
• Guard your heart from tobacco. If you smoke, stop. Quitting smoking might be one of the toughest things you’ll ever do, but you’re worth the effort. A year after your last cigarette, you’ll have cut your risk of heart disease in half.
• Eat smart. You’ve heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right? Well, it holds true for women, too. A healthy diet is the key to a healthy heart. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat, fish, beans, peas and lentils. Stay away from processed and packaged foods. Drink plenty of water, and don’t have more than one or two alcoholic drinks in a day.
• Stay at a healthy weight. Keeping your weight in a healthy range will lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other problems.
• Check your numbers. Having high blood pressure, cholesterol or glucose levels raises your risk for heart problems. See your doctor for regular check-ups, so you can keep track of your levels and keep them where they need to be.

Author: J.S.