We’ve said it before: The last two years have been a rollercoaster for everyone.
With so much going on, important habits like regular exercise and eating healthy may have slipped. But if they have, now is the time to pick them back up.
Your heart will thank you!
Heart health doesn’t have to be hard. Small steps help protect you and minimize risk factors like high blood pressure. And a healthy heart gives you a better chance at good overall health and a longer life.
February is American Heart Month. With heart disease likely to remain this country’s number one killer, it’s a great time to remember the day-to-day steps you can take to protect your heart.
If you need help, our community partners offer great programs to get you started.
Tips for a healthy heart.
If you want to maintain a healthy heart, it’s not a big lift. A few simple tips will help keep your ticker ticking:
- Learn your family’s heart history. Know your risks for heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.
- Talk to your healthcare provider.
- Lose extra weight.
- Eat vegetables and fruit.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Get enough physical exercise.
- Limit alcoholic drinks.
- Quit smoking.
- Reduce your stress.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
Community programs fostering heart health.
Community programs can help you reach your goals. You can start with our great partners:
- YMCA of Pierce & Kitsap Counties helps lead the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). It brings DDP to places like Mercy Housing, a low-income senior housing facility in Tacoma.
- Speaking of Mercy Housing, it also offers self-monitoring blood pressure program for its tenants.
- Foundation for Healthy Generations provides workshops for community health workers to teach blood pressure and diabetes classes.
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s Congregational Health Ministries helps train nurses who want to improve both heart and overall health in their congregation.
- The Samoan Nurses Organization and the Salishan Community Health Advocates support improved heart health in several local communities.
- Our Black Infant Health program offers a program to help pregnant women of color monitor their blood pressure. We give expectant mothers a monitor, instructions and support.
February is good time to get started, but your heart needs your attention all year long. Find more ways to keep your heart healthy on our website!
