Letter from the Editor: Habits for a Healthy Heart

February is American Heart Health Month, but caring for your heart is important any time of year. That’s why, in addition to maintaining our existing heart health articles with updates to include new research, we’re also bringing new content your way to share accessible tips for things you can do today or any day to show your heart some love.

Small changes for big impact

Preventive care can help reduce long-term healthcare costs. And maintaining health in midlife can have long-term positive effects on health status later in life, too.
While there’s always the possibility that you may develop conditions you can’t prevent, like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, and genetics also play a role in overall health, there are steps you can take to improve your general well-being.

Many small or micro lifestyle changes have the potential to have a big impact on your heart health. You may be familiar with some, like increased exercise or increased vegetable intake. Even improvements to oral hygiene may make a difference.

A year of heart-healthy habits

I’ve been fortunate to have mostly good health, but as I get older, I’m more aware of my own mortality, especially after losing several family members over the past 3 years. Developing healthy habits, including ones that support heart health, is one action I can take to help increase the chances that I’ll be here long enough to witness important moments in my children’s lives.

This year, I’m focusing on small changes that I can manage on top of my busy life as a working mom to two young, energetic boys. I don’t have a lot of time in my day for long workouts, and by the time I get home, I’m too tired to make involved dinners. Stress is a regular part of my life, and sleep is something that has eluded me since I was pregnant with my first child. He’s 9 years old and counting.

Heart health habit #1: Get enough exercise

Exercise at least 150 minutes a week. You can break the time into 10-minute or longer sessions of moderate to vigorous activity.
Your heart rate should be at least 100 beats per minute.

Heart health habit #2: Follow a healthy diet

You may have heard of the DASH and Mediterranean diets, both of which are heart-healthy, but following an overall well-balanced diet is the goal.
Heart health habit #3: Visit your primary care doctor
Heart health habit #4: Drink water
Heart health habit #5: Get enough sleep