Fittingly, February is American Heart Month. Valentine’s season is the perfect time to show your love not only to the special people in your life but also to yourself, by taking good care of your heart.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States for both men and women. That’s a daunting statistic, but the good news is that heart disease and stroke are largely preventable. If you make a few small changes today, you’ll be healthier in 2023, and your heart will thank you for it.

On behalf of the Prowers Medical Center team, here are eight tips from the American Heart Association for preventing heart disease and stroke.

  1. Understand your risks.

Prevention starts with good information. Cardiovascular disease risk factors include older age, family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, kidney disease, inactivity and being overweight. The AHA even has a risk calculator online to help you determine your likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years. Check it out at ccccalculator.ccctracker.com.

Visit with a Provider

To schedule an appointment with a primary care provider at Prowers Medical Center, call 719-336-6767 or visit prowersmedical.com

  1. Eat for health.

Your body needs high-quality fuel to run well. Avoid junk food and opt for whole grains, veggies, fruits, beans, nuts, fish and lean meats. Learn to read nutrition labels, and stay away from packaged or prepared foods and beverages high in sugars, sodium and saturated fats. Start small by swapping out one junk food for one healthy food each day.

  1. Move your body.

Our bodies are designed for movement, and the heart is a muscle. It needs regular activity to stay strong. If you’re not already active, start moving more. If you’re already active, challenge yourself to increase the intensity of your exercise a bit. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. What’s moderate intensity? It’s anything that gets your heart pumping and makes you breathe a little harder. You should still be able to talk but not sing.

  1. Control your weight.

If you’re overweight, talk to your Prowers Medical Center primary care provider about options to help you drop a few pounds. Just a little weight loss can go a long way to better health.

  1. Quit tobacco.

If you smoke, vape or chew tobacco, your risk of cardiovascular disease is much higher.  Prowers Medical Center now offers a local program to help you quit. Called Freedom from Smoking, the eight-session class was developed by the American Lung Association and is free. Call 719-336-6731 for more information.

  1. Manage any conditions that increase your risk.

If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar or diabetes, be sure to manage them as well as possible. Close monitoring, medication and lifestyle choices can all contribute to helping keep them under control.

  1. Follow your medication plan.

Likewise, if your healthcare provider puts you on a prescription medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar or diabetes, it’s important to take it as directed.

  1. Work with your providers.

Your healthcare team at Prowers Medical Center is here to help you be as healthy as possible. In fact, we’re passionate about helping our patients improve their health, lower their risk factors and live their best lives. If you have cardiovascular disease or risk factors, you don’t have to go it alone. Schedule an appointment to discuss your concerns, and together we’ll make a plan to help you achieve better heart health and overall wellness in 2023.