While February can be a time to celebrate love, it is also American Heart Month. What better time to focus on your cardiovascular health than now? According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one person dying every 34 seconds. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and can lead to a heart attack.
The good news is that simple lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease. In this blog post, the professionals at Quality Care ER will share tips to help keep your heart healthy.
#1: Stop Smoking
No matter how much or how long you have smoked, quitting is the best thing you can do for your heart. Even if you already have coronary heart disease, you can significantly lower your risk of having more heart attacks by quitting smoking. Smoking is the number one cause of heart attacks, and your risk decreases after just one day without cigarettes. While quitting isn’t easy, there are plenty of helpful resources to help you get started.
#2: Get Active
By engaging in physical activity that gets your heart pumping, you can help prevent cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week. While this recommendation may seem daunting, you can achieve this with five 30-minute exercise sessions per week or two 15-minute sessions throughout the day. Keep in mind that some exercise is always better than nothing.
#3: Eat Smart
A healthy diet is essential for a healthy heart! Add more heart-smart foods to your diet, such as salmon, nuts, berries, and oats. Limit your intake of saturated fats, and choose lean proteins like fish and skinless chicken. Trans fat is something you should avoid altogether. It is considered the worst type of fat for your health and increases your risk of heart disease. Dark chocolate is great in moderation if you want something to satisfy your sweet tooth.
At Quality Care ER, we’re committed to your heart health! Even though one in five heart attacks is silent, the damage they cause to the body is not. Contact us today at (903) 417-0886 or visit our website to learn more about our treatments for heart attacks.