February is American Heart Month. Celebrated annually, American Heart Month is a time for all Americans, young and old, to focus on their heart health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and while anyone can be diagnosed with heart disease– regardless of age, race, or gender– you’re at a higher risk of developing it the older you get. Meaning, it’s important to implement habits in your life now to ensure your heart is healthy for as long as possible.
Living heart-healthy starts with taking time for yourself: self-care is a great way to positively impact your mental health and your physical health, and it’s an easy way to start taking steps towards living a heart-healthy lifestyle. Additionally, regular physical activity, even if it isn’t an intense exercise or weight loss routine, helps strengthen the muscles in your body. Stronger muscles mean better blood flow, reduced stress hormones that affect the heart, and lower blood pressure.
Eating heart-healthy foods is also important: reducing sodium, foods with high levels of saturated fat, and incorporating more whole grains and fiber into your diet can help your heart stay healthy as you age. Sleep is also crucial, as poor sleep can not only affect your ability to be a successful student, but poor sleep, over long periods, can cause higher blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease.
After you’ve gotten your rest, gone for a walk, and eaten some healthy food, how else can you help your heart? If you’re old enough to drink, make sure when you go out, you’re drinking in moderation— excess consumption of alcohol over time can negatively affect your heart and liver. Additionally, excessive caffeine consumption, which is more than 400 mg per day, can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and increased risk of heart disease.
While it’s important to have fun and enjoy being young and in college, it’s also important to make sure you’re taking care of your heart to have fun when you’re older, too.
