Love Your Heart – Take These Steps to Protect It

From The American College of Cardiology

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on your heart health and learn about cardiovascular risks. A healthy lifestyle can help you lower your chance of heart disease and better manage heart conditions. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) offers resources to help you stay informed and on the path to heart health!

Heart Month is the perfect time to show your heart some love! Take these small but impactful steps to build healthy habits and protect your heart:

1.  Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Even those in good health can benefit from heart-healthy eating habits. However, adopting a nutritious eating plan is particularly important for individuals at risk of, or currently living with, heart disease. Focus on a diet rich in whole foods filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Take a look at CardioSmart’s infographic on heart-healthy nutrition for more tips on how to get the right nutrients to support your heart health.

2.  Get Regular Physical Activity

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to boost your overall health. Beyond preventing heart disease, regular exercise helps reduce stress, improve sleep, boost energy levels, enhance mood, and even support brain function. However, many people find it challenging to make time for physical activity. Visit CardioSmart.org/MoveMore to find tools and resources for staying active. 

3.  Maintain a Healthy Weight

If you are overweight, dropping even a small amount of weight can have a positive impact on your heart health. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight helps lower the strain on your heart, reduces blood pressure, and helps control cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

4.  Avoid Smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, as it damages blood vessels and reduces oxygen supply to your heart. Smoking causes 1 of every 3 deaths from cardiovascular disease. Visit CardioSmart.org/StopSmoking for more information and tips on how to quit.

5.  Manage Stress

Managing stress is essential for protecting your heart as chronic stress can lead to higher blood pressure and increased heart disease risk. Reduce the effects of stress on your heart by adding to stress-reduction practices to our daily routine. Some examples include mindfulness, meditation, or yoga.

6.  Get Vaccinated

Staying up to date with your vaccines is a crucial aspect of heart-healthy living. Check out this CardioSmart infographic to learn how the right vaccines can help protect your heart.

Additionally, watch this video to understand how the flu impacts heart health and why getting a flu shot is so important. Just like tracking your medications, it's essential to keep a record of your vaccines. Use this worksheet to stay organized and ensure you're up to date on all your vaccinations.

Use Heart Month as an opportunity to kickstart your journey toward better heart health. Your heart will thank you!

Happy Heart Month! 

Resources from CardioSmart.org:

• Healthy Living (hub)

• Move More (hub)

• How Hard is the Activity? (fact sheet)

• Protect Your Heart With the Vaccines You Need (infographic)

• Have Heart Disease? 7 Tips to Avoid the Flu and Stay Healthy (handout)

• Have Heart Disease? Get the Vaccines You Need to Stay Healthy (handout)

• Stay on Top of Your Vaccines (worksheet)

• Keeping a Vaccine Record is Important – Even For Adults (handout)

• How Flu Affects Your Heart: Why Getting a Flu Shot is Important (video)