Four Things You Should be Doing for a Healthy Heart

February is American Heart Month and we want to help you show your heart some love. 1 in 4 deaths in the U.S. are from heart disease, but nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented! Below are four ways to protect yourself from heart disease. 

Saved by the Numbers

The first step to taking control of your heart health is to know your numbers. The American Heart Association recommends measuring these five key numbers: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI). Your health care provider can measure these numbers and help determine your risk for heart disease. If you know your numbers, you’ll be better equipped to prevent heart disease. 

You Snooze, You Win  

Your heart is significantly impacted when your body doesn’t get enough sleep. Poor sleep habits are linked to high blood pressure, slow metabolism and difficulty losing weight. So how many hours should you be clocking each night? The right amount can vary from person to person, but most people need six to eight hours. Make sleep a priority. Cut back on electronics, establish an evening routine, and limit caffeine.

Pump It Up

Moving your body is one of the best ways to take care of your heart. Exercising can be overwhelming at first, but it comes with many benefits: improves cholesterol, prevents high blood pressure and bone loss, reduces risk of stroke by 20 percent, increases energy, and so much more! Start slow and build up to a routine that challenges your body and keeps you motivated. Need a place to start? Check out Coach Shelby’s Well-Rounded Workouts webinar here.

Eat For the Beat

Think of your heart every time you sit down to eat. Fill your plate with fruits, veggies, fiber-rich whole grains, fish, and nuts. Try keeping a food journal of everything you consume. It’s an easy way to identify which meals you’re struggling with. Our Healthcheck360 app can track your food with a quick bar code scan or simply use pen and paper. Another great place to start is by checking out 7 Foods for Life to learn which foods to add to your grocery cart each week.

Making a commitment to your health isn’t something you have to do alone. HealthCheck360 is full of resources to support your wellness journey. A health coach is just a call away, dial 866-511-0360 ext 5099 to schedule a time to chat with a coach today.

Ready to make a change? Coach Trent breaks down the impact of small changes. Read about it here and be on your way to better health, one small change at a time.

source: https://www.heart.org/