15 Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy

Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined

What is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S.? Cardiovascular disease. Too often people don’t know their ticker is less than healthy until it’s too late. There is a wide range of symptoms associated with a heart attack and these symptoms do not always include distinct chest pain, especially in women. Can’t stress that point enough!

They can be subtle such as extreme fatigue, heart palpitations, feeling light headed or dizzy, nausea and indigestion, heartburn, shortness of breath, tingling of the hands and pain – even in a finger. All are symptoms that are often associated with other ailments so it’s not always obvious when a woman is having a heart attack.

It’s also important to point out that it is more difficult to detect heart disease in women because our arteries are smaller and lacier so which makes it harder to see the plaque since it doesn’t lay in quite the same way.

February is National Heart Health Month

Some types of heart disease are genetic and difficult to detect but for the most part, heart disease can be avoided. It may surprise you to know that 80% of heart disease is preventable according to the American Heart Association.

• Know your blood pressure Have your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar tested. Ideal BP is 115/76 or lower. Your bad cholesterol (LDL) should be lower than 100 and your good cholesterol (HDL) should be higher than 50. Even a slight elevation of any one of these can double or possibly quadruple your risk for stroke but you can lessen that chance with proper care
• Stress Less This is a big one. Stress leads to many health problems. Anxiety hurts your heart so much that highly anxious types are two times as likely to suffer a heart attack or die that those who take things in stride and stay calm.
• Meditate Want to help ease that stress and anxiety? Meditation is key. Even 10 minutes a day will help.
• Have your C-reactive protein (CRP) checked High levels correlate with increased of suffering a heart attack. Inflammation of the arteries is linked to heart disease and stroke.
• Exercise!!  Get your heart rate going with some cardio nearly everyday, strength train a few times a week and zen out with some yoga
• Go for regular check-ups Start young, even people in their twenties should get physicals
• Keep your weight down That does not mean you have to be some unrealistic size, just stay within a range that is healthy for your height and keep your waist circumference and BMI in the healthy zone (besides, booties are in girls, so don’t bother getting rid of the very thing he likes to grab!)
• Test your glucose Dr. Roshini Raj recommends that everyone have a glucose test for diabetes every 3 years because diabetes is a major cause of heart disease. She also says it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about taking the new LDL particle test
• Do NOT smoke Do we even have to discuss this no brainer?
• Choose healthy foods  It’s an obvious one but too many people have poor diets. Avoid foods with saturated and trans fat. Stay away from fried food! Eat the bad stuff once in a while but on a regular basis, indulge in fruits, veggies, super foods, foods high in antioxidants and fiber
• Know your family health history
• Pay attention to your body As I stated above, the symptoms are not always obvious
• Keep alcohol consumption moderate Boring, I know. cocktails with friends are one of the big enjoyments of life. Welcome to my weekends 😉 Just keep it under control & not too frequent.
• Know the symptoms Sharp chest pain is obvious but remember, extreme fatigue, heart palpitations, feeling light headed or dizzy, nausea and indigestion, heartburn, shortness of breath, tingling of the hands and pain can be symptoms as well
• Get busy in the bedroom (my personal favorite) Intimate sex and loving affection are vital for our over all mental and physical well being. Sex is very good for your heart, besides, is there really anything more fun?!

A votre sante! ❤️