Love Your Heart

There’s a lot of love going around in the month of February! Many celebrate Valentines Day on the fourteenth, but a day that is often overlooked is National Wear Red Day. The purpose of National Wear Red Day is to raise awareness about heart disease that can lead to death, especially in woman. The number one health related killer of women is heart disease. A large amount of heart disease is preventable. It is important to be stewards of your own health and make the changes necessary to prevent heart disease, as well as work with your provider to manage any of your risk factors for heart disease. It is important to understand that heart disease can present differently in woman than men. Being vigilant and proactive can save lives.

A few things in your control that can affect your risk for heart disease include your activity, diet and tobacco exposure.

Activity

It is important you exercise regularly. It is recommended that you get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. If you are not currently exercising, start small and give yourself reasonable and reachable goals. Give yourself grace and take breaks when you need them!

Diet

First, you want to avoid eating in excess and make sure you have a balanced diet. Focus on whole grains, quality sources of protein, and fruits and vegetables. Easy changes you can make include cutting down sodas, looking for leaner cuts of meat, not adding salt to your food, avoiding processed foods and added sugars. Try to eat meals at home and consider meal prepping to save time during the week! It is also recommended that you limit or avoid alcohol.

Tobacco

No amount of tobacco use or vaping is recommended. Any usage you can cut is beneficial. If you need help quitting and would like to explore your options, reach out to your primary care provider.

There are other medical conditions that can increase your risk for heart disease. These include some elevated cholesterol levels and elevated blood pressure. Both can be evaluated by your primary care provider and may require management with medication.

So, whether you decided to make some lifestyle changes, make an appointment with your provider, or share this information with someone you love; make sure you save a little love for your heart this February!

Dr. Miller is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.