Valentine's Day is not the only February holiday that focuses on hearts. It is also Heart Health Month, and heart disease is the most common health issue that patients face. This is an ideal time to offer advice on how people can lower their risk of the various problems related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels steady and reduce their heart disease and heart attack danger.

Manage expectations  

Identifying a medical problem from a doctor's visit or on your own is a major step. You cannot resolve these types of difficulties overnight or even for a week or two. Immediate change can be overwhelming, and people resist adapting to new habits all at once. Tracking improvement is crucial for your health—persevering to confront these issues. Celebrate successes and overcome drawbacks. Momentum is a secret way to succeed at your goals.   

Eat Healthily  

Living a nutritious lifestyle can help keep your heart health in check. Carbs are not bad. Choose whole-grain bread instead of refined. Plain Greek yogurt makes for a nutritional snack and eat it with natural fruit. Increase your protein intake and drink more water. Avoid fried foods. Skip diet foods tend to have more sugar. All of this will contribute to lowering weight and relaxing your blood pressure.   

Lower Stress  

Maintaining stress is a way to fight for your heart health. Anxiety can trigger dramatic but temporary increases in your blood pressure. Bodies react by unleashing stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) into the blood. These hormones condition the body for a heightened response by causing the heart to beat quickly and narrowing blood vessels to circulate more blood. Begin some relaxation techniques. Meditation, embracing guided imagery, and taking deep, rhythmic breathes.  

Exercise   

Many people do not spend a lot of time working out. Forming new habits, starting small, and building up to something matters. Both lightweight training and cardio can help you, and temporary soreness is better than the long-term problems of managing heart health issues—however, ten minutes of brisk or moderate walking a few times a day can help. 

Increase Sleep  

This is an important one and could be the most challenging. Unwinding at night could be difficult for many busy professionals or when a personal life can become burdensome. Lower your blue light (screen time) at night. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon. Taking a melatonin supplement can help you fall asleep. Find a routine schedule of going to sleep and waking up, which allows a natural sleep cycle.  

Heart Health month is a fantastic opportunity to book doctors' visits and commence to make small but significant lifestyle modifications. Since 1988, WSi has been staffing health care professionals. Contact us if you are looking for your next position.