February is designated as Heart Healthy Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of women (and men, for that matter) in the United States. The CDC suggests the following steps to lower our chance of heart disease:
Of course, we are old pros at most of these but a reminder never hurts!Manage your stress levels. Find healthy ways to lower your stress levels. Learn more about coping with stress.
Know your blood pressure. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so it's important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
Check for diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should be tested for diabetes. Having uncontrolled diabetes raises your risk of heart disease.
Know your cholesterol status. Knowing your cholesterol status can help you stay in control of your health.
Quit smoking. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, learn about how to quit.
Be physically active. Try to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of physical activity each week. Not getting enough physical activity can lead to heart disease.
Choose healthy foods and drinks. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and eat fewer processed foods.
Limit how much alcohol you drink. Women of legal drinking age should either avoid alcohol or drink one or less alcoholic drink per day.
