National Heart Health Month

February is a time for self care and self assessment.

Self-care is the best care!

Heart conditions and diseases are the number one cause of death in the United States, but there’s a lot you can do to prevent it. Taking time to care for your heart can be challenging as you go about daily life. But with small actions, it’s easier than you think to show your heart the love it deserves.

How to prevent heart diseases? With acts of self-care. Research shows that self-care can help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

What does “self-care” mean? Researchers define self-care as what you do to stay healthy. It’s also what you do to identify and care for any health problems you have, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health disorders. It’s heart-healthy living.

Which parts of your self-care routine help your heart? Self-care for your heart is really self-care for your whole self. You can improve and protect your health overall when you:

Get a daily dose of physical activity, such as a brisk, 30-minute walk.

Sleep 7-8 hours a night.

Cook meals that are low in sodium and unhealthy fats.

Take your medications as prescribed and keep your medical appointments.

Manage stress through, for example, meditation, yoga, a warm bath, or quiet time with a good book or funny movie.

American Heart Month is a great starting point to try to reach or stay at a healthy weight by moving more, starting an exercise routine, and having snacks like fruits and veggies ready to grab when hunger hits.

How can you make self-care for your heart easier? The trick is to plan ahead, and build heart-healthy activities into your daily self-care routine.

Another trick we want to share with you is to schedule things that are both good for you and important to you. You might want to set aside time to:

Cook delicious, heart-healthy recipes. Choose some from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s delicious heart-healthy eating website.
Go for a bike ride, take an online exercise class, or have a family dance party.