ResCare HomeCare news — 02/01/2008
Love your heart and stay healthier, longer!
During this Valentine's Day season, traditionally devoted to showering loved ones with tokens of love and affection, how about showering your heart with a little TLC? Everyone in your life, from your closest family member to your pet, will be glad you did.
In the U.S., heart disease ranks as the number one killer of both men and women, year after year. What's new is that we know more than ever about the risk factors related to heart disease and how to lower risk.
Admittedly, some risk factors are out of our control. Age, gender, and hereditary traits such as race and family medical history all affect our chances of developing heart disease. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), over 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older. And although women are at higher risk than was once commonly assumed, men are still at greater risk of experiencing a heart attack. (On the other hand, at older ages, women who have heart attacks are more likely to die of them within a few weeks.) People with a family history of heart disease are at greater risk than the general population, and African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans are all at higher risk than Caucasians.
Of course, those at greater risk - including seniors - and anyone with an interest in reducing the risk of heart disease should pay special attention to factors that can be controlled. To minimize your risk, experts recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle:
- Don't smoke, and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
- Shed excess weight.
- Get physically active.
- Eat well, choosing foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods, and fish, and avoiding trans fats, saturated fats, and foods high in cholesterol, sugar, and salt.
- Drink only in moderation. According to the AHA, that means one to two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women.
- Talk to your doctor about controlling your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Manage the stress in your life - stay positive, learn to relax, and be happy!
It's never too late to make a healthy change that will make a difference. For more information on what you can do to avoid heart disease - and a list of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest warning signs - visit the American Heart Association website.
Your friends at ResCare HomeCare
