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American Heart Month:

February: Life's Simple 7

Get Active

Control Cholesterol

Eat Better

Manage Blood Pressure

Lose Weight

Reduce Blood Sugar

Stop Smoking

Finding time in our over scheduled lives for exercise is a challenge for all busy Americans.  Especially for those who are parents or are working full-time or both.  But the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices it takes to carve out that time.  And anyone who has successfully managed to do so will tell you how happy they are to have found the time.  They'll tell you how much more energy they have, and how they are actually able to do more than before they started getting regular exercise. 

Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells.  It's normal to have cholesterol.  Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body because it's used for producing cell membranes and some hormones, and serves other needed bodily functions.  But too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and for stroke.

A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease.  However, there are a lot of mixed messages and myths out there regarding healthy eating.  It's not surprising that a lot of us are confused about the different types of fats.  We have lots of questions regarding sodium and meat and dairy.  With all the differing opinions, it's best to get informed from credible sources. so you can make smart choices in your diet for long-term benefits to your heart and health.  It's the overall pattern of your choices that counts most.

Hypertension is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease.  Uncontrolled high blood pressure can injure or kill you.  It's sometimes called "the silent killer" because it has no symptoms.  One in three adults has high blood pressure, yet, about 21% don't even know they have it.  Of those with high blood pressure, 69% are receiving treatment, yet, only 45% have their blood pressure controlled.

The American heart Association considers diabetes one of the six major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.  In fact, adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes.  Diabetes is treatable, but even when glucose levels are under control it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.  In fact, most people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.

Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States.  Smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis -- the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries -- which can lead to coronary heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke.  Controlling or reversing atherosclerosis is an important part of preventing future heart attack or stroke.

 

For more information please visit the web site below.

Source: www.mylifecheck.heart.org