It’s a sad fact that every 7 minutes someone dies from heart disease or stroke in Canada and 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor. In the spirit of Heart and Stroke month, Harmony Village wants to share some heart healthy tips courtesy of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
High blood pressure: High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke, and a major risk factor of heart disease. Your blood pressure can be kept in check through exercise, managing stress and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Excess weight: By achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Our tip: Eat a diet that is lower in saturated and trans-fats and includes fresh vegetables and fruit, complex carbohydrates and foods higher in fibre such as whole grain cereals and bread.
Get active: The Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends active living as a key part of a healthy life – at least 30 minutes, 4 days a week!
Stress: Too much stress and not knowing how to cope with it can harm your health and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. If you feel stressed out, identify the source of your stress by figuring out what is really bothering you – it's the first step in managing your stress.
Smoking: The Heart and Stroke Foundation states that being smoke-free has enormous benefits for your health and the health of the people around you. Within one year of quitting, the risk of dying from smoking-related heart disease is cut in half.
Are you at risk? Take the Heart&Stroke Risk AssessmentTM for your own profile and customized action plan for healthy living that includes tips, tools, recipes and much more to help you reduce your risk.
***Information for this post is courtesy of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada***
0 comments:
Post a Comment