February is Heart Health Month and all across America, people are finding ways to fight heart disease and better care for their heart health. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the US. Diet, fitness, family history, age and stress all play a role in your heart health. Getting regular heart screenings, exams and checkups will keep you informed of how healthy your heart is and what you can do to live a longer, healthier life. Here are five ways you and your family can get heart healthy.
1. Heart Attack Symptoms
Knowing what to look for and becoming better educated about heart attack symptoms and prevention are some of the best ways to combat heart disease and might even save a life. When someone is experiencing a heart attack, they may:
- Experience heavy heart pounding
- Have chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or dizziness
- Have a loss of consciousness or become disorientated and confused
- Feel anxiety and become overwhelmed
- Become red in the face, hands and feet
What to do:
Act quickly! Call 911, use CPR and provide them with aspirin as it may reduce blood clotting and further damage.
2. Heart Healthy Activities
Staying active for 30 minutes each day by walking, running, bike riding, swimming or playing sports helps to maintain your heart health and overall physical fitness. Getting out on your lunch break, walking around your neighborhood in the evenings, finding a local sports group meetup or heading to the gym are all great ideas for remaining active and keeping your heart healthy. You’ll feel great too!
3. Heart Healthy Foods
Less sugar, salt and saturated fats in your diet can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease. Try adding heart healthy superfoods to your diet, like fish, blueberries, leafy greens, citrus fruits, green tea and even dark chocolate. Start looking to nuts and legumes for a protein fix without the fat levels of meat. Eat your way to heart health and lose weight with these superfoods.
4. Heart Screenings
Getting regular exams and checkups keeps you in the know about your heart health. Early detection and prevention are your best defenses against heart disease. Your heart specialist will work with you to reduce high cholesterol, lower blood pressure and create a fitness and diet plan that works for you. Make an appointment today.
5. Relax
Stress, anxiety, anger – it happens to all of us. Getting plenty of rest, eating properly and staying active can all work wonders for your physical and mental health. You may also choose to seek outside help for stress relaxation tools and techniques from a therapist. Learning how to deal with negative emotions and avoiding triggers helps to take pressure off your heart, letting you relax, laugh more and live a healthier, happier life.
At SNAHC, we provide a variety of heart healthy services. Call today to meet with one of our specialists for your regular preventive screenings, nutrition and fitness plans and whole person care. We are accepting new patients and everyone is welcome, with walk-in and Saturday appointments available for your convenience.
Take control of your heart health by calling us today – (916) 341-0575.
