February is American Heart Month. During this time, we focus on all things heart health, including raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases, and encouraging healthier lifestyles. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for the past 100 years and continues to be the leading cause of death today.

Understanding cardiovascular diseases and how they impact heart health is crucial. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking, all contribute to an increased risk of heart disease. Knowing your risk factors or characteristics and conditions that increase your chances of developing a disease is also important. The good news, however, is that many risk factors can be managed through healthy lifestyle changes. By being proactive, you can reduce these risks and lead a healthy life.

Here are a few things that you can do for a healthy heart.

• Eat Heart-Healthy Foods – Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your diet and reduce processed foods, salt and added sugars.
• Prioritize Movement – Try to move more and sit less throughout the day.
• Manage Stress –Practice activities that can help you to de-stress such as exercise, deep breathing, and social activities. Long-term stress can take a toll on your heart.
• Sleep Well – Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Adults who sleep less than 7 hours per night are more likely to have health problems.
• Know Your Numbers – Regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar are essential for a healthy heart.
• Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol – Seek support to stop smoking and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

Heart health starts with small steps and small steps lead to big change. Let’s take a step towards a healthy heart not just in February, but all year long.

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