Five Important Tips For a Healthy Heart

February is Heart Health Month, a terrific time to increase your awareness of the symptoms of heart disease and to learn how you can lower your risk for developing it. Heart disease is the leading cause of death (one in every four) for men and women in the U.S.; a heart attack occurs approximately every 40 seconds. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are the key risk factors for heart disease. Sadly, almost half of American adults have at least one of these risk factors.

Your heart is a muscular organ, and like the other muscles in your body, your heart needs special attention. At Morrison Community Hospital, Dr. Faraz Manazir helps patients improve their heart health in a variety of ways. Here are five vital tips for a healthy heart:

1. Exercise regularly.Include cardiovascular exercises to get your heart pumping, and strength training exercises to build muscle. “Knowing your target heart rate is important,” explained Dr. Manazir. “As a cardiologist, I can determine a patient’s target heart rate and offer recommendations regarding how to reach it. The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of five 30-minute exercise sessions each week.”

2. Get an annual physical that includes checking blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and other heart health benchmarks.“These help determine a patient’s risk for heart disease, and allows us to offer correct advice regarding lifestyle changes and medications, if necessary,” added Dr. Manazir. “Untreated diabetes can also lead to heart disease.”

3. Quit smoking. Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the U.S.

4. Eat a healthy diet.Heart-smart foods like salmon, nuts, berries, and oats, along with other superfoods, will contribute to a healthy heart.

5. Reduce stress. Stress leads to weight gain, a key factor for heart disease.

For more tips for a healthy heart, or to schedule a check-up, please contact:

Morrison Community Hospital

303 North Jackson Street

Morrison, IL 61270

Phone: 815-772-5511

www.morrisonhospital.com