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Improving Your Heart Health

We know heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, but what can you do (or stop doing) to aide in prevention? There are many changes and extra steps you can take to improve your overall health and lower your risk for heart disease:

Know your numbers.
It is important to know where you stand with your body mass index, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Having baseline numbers will help you know your risk and track improvement.

Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.
You can find these certain types of fish (including anchovies, salmon, and tuna), vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flaxseeds, and leafy vegetables.

Get active.
This does not mean you have to start running marathons. Small bouts of activity add up. Start walking with co-workers during your lunch break or take a bike ride on the weekend with friends.

Quit smoking.
Your heart health improves immediately after quitting.

Get enough sleep.
Not only does sleep help with stress, but research shows that people who do not get enough sleep are more than twice as likely as others to have heart disease. Aim for seven hours a night.

These lifestyle improvements may take time, but small and steady changes can make a stronger, more efficient heart.

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