This month is American Heart Month, celebrated by the American Heart Association. Let’s talk about some conversations to have and things to keep in mind this month and beyond for your heart. This is not medical advice, please talk about your specific case with your physician.
Know Your Risk
You should talk to your doctor about your family history with heart disease and heart-related conditions. Keep in mind that certain demographics not only have higher rates of heart disease but the disease may be caught later in its progression. Early detection is key, talk to your physician about what to look out for as far as symptoms go. Ask them if they recommend any lifestyle changes to help lower your risk and keep your heart healthy.
Get Your Groove On
There are lots of activities that you can do that will help keep your heart healthy. I wrote about some in this post, because the American Heart Association has some recommendations here. The AHA recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise (or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise) a week. Find an activity that you love or increase the frequency of one that you already do, like swimming, gardening or dancing, to boost your heart health.
Learn Emergency Signs
Know the symptoms of a heart attack, and also know that they can present slightly different in women than men. Educate yourself so you can be safe and have a healthy heart.
Written by Brigid Coffey
