Celebrate American Heart Month with Stroke and Heart Disease Awareness

February is American Heart Month. What better month to celebrate your beating heart than the month of love? As you think about the intricacies of the heart muscle and how it keeps your body functioning each day, learn about how you can be aware of certain risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

You only have one body. Are you treating it like a well-oiled machine? Or is your daily maintenance not conducive to keeping the heart organ up and running efficiently? Think about what you could be doing better to avoid the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Avoid Heart Disease and Stroke by Being Proactive

Genetics plays a part in heart disease and stroke. If it runs in your family or you have reason to believe you are more susceptible to suffering from a heart attack or stroke, you should be even more proactive. Here are some tips for preventing heart disease and stroke:

• Watching Cholesterol Intake: Learn about good and bad cholesterol and watch your intake. Limit the amount of trans fat and red meat you eat in your diet. Introduce good fats into your diet, like avocados, eggs, and fish oil.
• Staying on Top of Your Blood Glucose Levels: If you are pre-diabetic or have a history of diabetes in your family, learn how to take care of your body by limiting the amounts of junk food you take in. If you are insulin-resistant, you can prevent diabetes by managing your diet and pairing the carbs you eat with protein and vegetables.
• Checking Your Blood Pressure Regularly: Prevent stroke by learning about blood pressure management. Unfortunately, high blood pressure does not always manifest itself. Check your blood pressure at a local drugstore or with your doctor if you are in the danger zone.
• Eating Healthy: Eat a variety of foods, including leafy greens, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables.
• Moving Your Body Each Day: Your body will only benefit from movement each day. Make a goal to break a sweat for at least 20-30 minutes every day by practicing yoga, swimming, walking, or playing sports.

Stay ahead of any unwanted diseases by treating your body with as much care and maintenance as you would a cherished vehicle or your dream home. You can do things now to prevent a series of illnesses and diseases in the future.

At Bonita Springs Healthcare Services, we want to keep you healthy and free from heart disease. Please reach out to our Bonita Springs Healthcare Services team with questions about your medical needs.