5 Ways to Love Your Heart This February (and All Year Long)

February is American Heart Month, the ideal time to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and how to protect your heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men in the United States, so lowering your risk is crucial.

Parkview Cardiology in New York City is a comprehensive cardiology practice that provides diagnostic testing and personalized treatment solutions.

Our experienced medical team prioritizes disease prevention. We offer educational resources to optimize your heart health and customized care plans to prevent cardiac-related complications from heart disease and other conditions.

5 tips to protect and optimize your heart health

Cardiovascular disease and its risk factors are largely preventable. While your genetic history does play a role in heart-related issues, your lifestyle, diet, and regular habits significantly contribute to heart disease and its complications.

Below, we outline five meaningful ways to love your heart all year long, so you remain healthy, active, and independent:

1. Know your numbers

Learning your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) helps you better understand the big picture of your health.

Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol levels can go undetected for years because they cause no physical symptoms. However, without treatment, these issues can ultimately lead to heart events like cardiac arrest and stroke.

2. Be consistent with movement

Physical activity is essential to keep your heart muscle strong, boost circulation, and manage weight. Start small, aiming for at least 15 minutes of moderate physical activity twice a day, then work your way up to longer sessions.

Walking, swimming, cycling, and dancing are all great for heart health. The goal is to make exercise a sustainable part of your daily routine.

3. Eat a heart-healthy diet

A heart-healthy diet incorporates whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats into each meal. Avoid processed foods, added sugar and salt, and saturated fats.

Cook the majority of your meals at home instead of dining out. Substitute water for sugary drinks and alcohol.

4. Stay ahead of stress and sleep well

Chronic stress and poor-quality sleep negatively affect your blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health. 

If you feel overwhelmed, adopt mindfulness practices, such as meditation, into your routine or contact a mental health counselor for stress management advice.

Be proactive about getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. You may need to change your existing sleep habits to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night.

5. Kick the tobacco habit

Tobacco use can damage blood vessels and raise your blood pressure levels, increasing your risk of heart disease.

Quitting smoking is a powerful way to regain control of your heart health and overall wellness. We can recommend smoking cessation programs to help you kick the habit for good.

Love your heart all year long

February is designated American Heart Month, but caring for your heart should be a year-round commitment.

Prevention is always more effective than treatment, so if you have risk factors for heart disease or you’re simply ready to improve your health, meet with our providers to discuss other heart disease prevention strategies.

To schedule a consultation at Parkview Cardiology, call our Midtown Manhattan office or request an appointment online today.