February is filled with images of hearts, and is a good a time as any to give a little extra thought to your own. Protecting yourself from heart disease helps protect your life. Heart disease types include angina, heart attack, heart failure and arrhythmia. 9-1-1 should be called right away for signs of a heart attack, including arm pain, lightheadedness and cold sweat. You can help prevent heart disease through these heart health lifestyle changes:
- Eat a healthy diet:
- Use herbs and spices instead of salt
- Trim visible fat before cooking and drain fat from cooked meat
- Choose foods lower in saturated fat, sodium and carbohydrates
- Move more!
- Physical activity increases the strength of the heart and lungs
- Invite others to move with you
- Watch weight
- Higher waist measurement and Body Mass Index indicates increased risk of heart disease
- Manage conditions
- Monitor signs of diabetes
- High blood pressure makes your heart work harder – check your blood pressure
- Take medications as prescribed by your doctor
- Quit smoking
- Chemicals in cigarette smoke cause the blood to form clots
- Smoking raises blood pressure and reduces oxygen in the blood
Despite the best intentions, old habits, fatigue, pain, lack of social support and other barriers can inhibit successfully making lifestyle changes to improve heart health. Work with our occupational therapists to help establish, develop and strengthen daily routines to promote health!