February is the season of love, making it the perfect time to focus on your heart. Having a healthy heart is important to having a healthy body. Each year, 1 in 4 Americans die of heart disease each year. In the state of Texas, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the state. Heart disease can also complicate other medical conditions such as colon cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease describes a range of conditions that impact your heart. These conditions involve narrow or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke. Many mistakenly view heart disease is limited to older adults, but heart disease is diagnosed in adults of all ages. To prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects, Dr. Ahmad and Associates is proudly participating in American Heart Month.
The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable when making healthy lifestyle choices.
- Add color to your diet: A good rule of thumb is to eat the colors of the rainbow. Eat foods that are high in fiber and low in sodium.
- Maintain a healthy body weight: Obesity is inextricably linked to heart disease and a shortened life span. Obesity is also linked to hypertension, increasing risk for heart failure.
- Exercise Consistently: Regular physical exercise reduces the risk of many aging-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends adults get 40 minutes of moderate physical activity 3-4 times a week.
- Avoid tobacco products: Smoking is the largest preventable cause of heart disease and 30% of heart disease deaths are caused by tobacco use. It’s never too late to stop smoking.
- Limit alcohol intake: Heavy alcohol intake increases the number of fat cells in your blood. It can also lead to high blood pressure and obesity which can increase your risk your risk for heart disease.