February is About More than Love…
When we think of February, many of us think of the heart. We think about love and sweets and maybe even a special Valentine. But there is much more to the heart than Cupid and affection. Simply, it’s what keeps us alive. So, while February is about celebrating the love felt in a heart, it’s also about keeping it healthy with American Heart Month. These 28 days (this year) serve as a reminder to us all to take care of our hearts in other ways than giving and receiving love.
American Heart Month started in 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson wanted a way to help tackle heart disease in the United States. Then, and today, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the country. In fact, one person dies every 34 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. And the reasons this rate is so high in this country are plentiful. The risk factors, including obesity, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity unfortunately permeate our society.
Heart Disease Risk Factors
While some risk factors for heart disease are, in fact, hereditary, many others are controllable and often even preventable. For example, millions of Americans suffer from high blood pressure, even as young as their forties, presenting a huge risk factor for heart disease. Further, obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes are all prevalent because of the overall unhealthy lifestyles of far too many individuals. And then there is smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “In 2020, nearly 13 of every 100 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older (12.5%) currently smoked cigarettes. This means an estimated 30.8 million adults in the United States currently smoke cigarettes.”
Reducing Heart Disease Risks
In February, and all year long, it’s about remembering to reduce these risks as much as possible by making important changes to our lifestyles. And clean living is a great way to do so. Here are some tips on living a heart-healthy, clean life:
- Eat clean: Eating whole foods low in trans-fat, saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar is a great way to keep your heart healthy. And don’t forget about the most colorful foods! Try to fill at least half your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal. If you’re thinking about growing them yourself, Norwex published a great Go-To Guide for planning and planting a Home Garden.
- Get moving: Start small if you’re not used to it and then work your way up. Even twenty minutes a day, three to four times a week, will make a difference to your heart.
- Take Supplements: Nikken offers “Heart of Nikken” packs containing three extraordinary heart-health nutritional supplements—Kenzen® Bergisterol®, Kenzen® Super Ciaga® and Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA.
- Talk to your doctor: Have a conversation about managing your blood pressure and cholesterol (which will likely already be reduced by eating clean and getting active). If you need to take medication, remember to take it as prescribed by your doctor.
- Stop smoking: If you are a smoker, try using one of the many resources out there to help you stop. Stick with it and know that you are improving your lungs and heart with each cigarette you don’t smoke.
Remember, heart disease can happen to anyone at any time. This is not something to worry about once you turn a certain age later in life. Rather, it is about the culmination of a lifetime of choices we make to consistently reduce our risks over time. To learn more about #AmericanHeartMonth, the risks, and how to prevent heart disease and stroke, visit www.millionhearts.hhs.gov.
