February is heart health month and a good time to check in on the health of you and your family’s ticker. Below are a few easy tips to help treat your heart right this month and beyond;
Break bad habits: We have learned that cigarettes are extremely detrimental to your heart; try to stay away. With many public areas going smoke free, now is as good of a time as any to try to kick the habit. Once you do quit, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce. Also, try to cut down on adding salt to your meals. This common habit can lead to high blood pressure. A quick tip, always try your food before deciding if it needs more salt, you might surprise yourself how much less you will need when you find food tastes good without it!
Get moving: The heart, just like any other muscle of the body, is healthier when it gets regular activity. Try to commit to 30 minutes a day of activity. Remember, activity can be disguised as many different things, wash your car by hand instead of sending it through the car wash, or take your dog out for one more walk around the block, he will love you for it!
Take a deep breath: Stress can be a huge culprit to heart issues. As you feel overwhelmed, you may fall back in to bad habits; you are more likely to eat unhealthy foods, consume more alcohol, get less sleep, all that can be tough on your ticker. Try to keep stress at bay to give your heart a little break.