OUR VIEW: February is all about the heart, so make sure you’re keeping yours in tip-top shape

Published 11:30 am Saturday, February 12, 2022

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The month of February is really all about the heart.

For instance, if you haven’t bought your significant other a Valentine’s Day present yet, now would be the time to do so. (Men, this is your que to get going!)

But it’s also about the heart quite literally, as it’s Healthy Heart Month.

All of us want to live a long, healthy life, and having a healthy heart is a large key in that.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Ways to prevent heart disease include the following: eat healthy, get active, stay at a healthy weight, quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke, control your cholesterol and blood pressure, drink alcohol only in moderation and manage stress.

You’re at a higher risk for heart disease if you don’t do any of the things above, but you are also at a higher risk if you fall into any of the following categories: you’re a woman over age 55, you’re a man over age 45, your father or brother had heart disease before age 55 or your mother or sister had heart disease before age 65.

We understand that finding the time to exercise every single day isn’t easy, especially given the speed at which our world currently moves. There is always something to handle at work, or a child needs to get to practice or school. But exercising is tremendously important. It’s the best way to keep your heart healthy, especially when paired with a healthy diet.

Find the time and control what you can about your heart health.