The American Heart Association has developed a program called “Life’s Simple 7, Seven Simple Steps to Live Better”. This program explains seven factors that can help you live better and improve your heart.

 

Step 1 – Get Active

Finding time in our overscheduled lives for exercise is a challenge for all busy Americans.  Especially for those who are parents or are working full-time or both. But the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices it takes as anyone who has successfully managed to do so will tell you. They’ll tell you how much more energy they have and how they are actually able to do more than before they started getting regular exercise. So take an active role in determining your future. You deserve to give yourself the gift of living well with good health.

 

Step 2 – Control Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells.  Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body because it's used for producing cell membranes and some hormones, and serves other needed bodily functions.  But too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and for stroke.

 

Step 3 – Eat Better

A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease.  However, there are a lot of mixed messages and myths out there regarding healthy eating.  It’s best to get informed from credible sources, so you can make smart choices in your diet for long-term benefits to your heart and health.  It's the overall pattern of your choices that counts most.

 

Step 4 – Manage Blood Pressure

Hypertension is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can injure or kill you.  It's sometimes called "the silent killer" because it has no symptoms.  One in three adults has high blood pressure, yet, about 21% don’t even know they have it.  Of those with high blood pressure, 69% are receiving treatment, yet, only 45% have their blood pressure controlled.

 

Step 5 – Lose Weight

Among Americans age 20 and older, 145 million are overweight or obese.  This is of great concern especially since obesity is now recognized as a major, independent risk factor for heart disease. If you have too much fat — especially if a lot of it is at your waist — you're at higher risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

 

Step 6 – Reduce Blood Sugar

The American Heart Association considers diabetes one of the six major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.  In fact, adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes. Diabetes is treatable, but even when glucose levels are under control it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

 

Step 7 – Stop Smoking

Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including those that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

 

You can find more information on each of these steps at the American Heart Association web site.

 

If you have additional questions or would like information on heart related medications, please contact Travis Holshouser or Jennifer Church.