5 Tips for Better Heart Health
- Light a candle. Make a date! Let your birthday remind you to set up an appointment with your doctor to evaluate your risk factors. Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels checked. Ask your doctor to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.
- Kick butts. If you smoke, quit. Here's a 4-step way to snuff your smoking habit. Day 1 - cut the number of cigarettes you smoke in half. Day 3 - cut the number n half again. Day 5 - cut the number in half again. On your Quit Day…quit!
- Get physical. Step, march or jog in place for at least 15 minutes a day while watching TV. Increase this exercise by 5 minutes each week until you're getting at least 30 minutes of this exercise most days of the week.
- Don't let a candy bar the way! If you eat 200-300 calories (about one candy bar) less and exercise at least 30 minutes on five or more days of the week, you'll steadily get closer to your goal and you're more likely to keep the weight off. Avoid fad diets. They don't work long term.
- Say, "Yea for me!" Keep track of your successes in exercising, losing weight or quitting smoking. When you reach a goal, reward yourself by doing something you enjoy. Why? Because you deserve it. Sometimes it's not easy to change.
American Heart Association