Though I share a very interesting article by my good friend LAURA CROOKS.

ENJOY

             

 Heart Health Info   

by Laura Crooks

•  Heart disease is the number one cause of death for American men.
• Heart disease is the number one cause of death for American women.
• 4 out of 5 heart disease deaths were preventable.
• A heart attack occurs every 34 seconds.
• Many people (women especially) mistake their heart attack for acid reflux or the flu.
• Classic heart attack symptoms include crushing chest pain, arm and jaw pain, and shortness of breath.  But symptoms can also be squeezing in the upper back, trouble breathing, light headedness, nausea.
• During a heart attack blood flow to part of the heart is decreased or cut off.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) is called the silent killer.
• 1 in 4 Americans have high blood pressure.
• High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and cognitive decline.
• Stroke is when blood supply to the brain is decreased or cut off.
• Losing just 7% of your body weight helps reverse your heart disease risk.
• You can lower your risk of heart disease by:
• maintaining a healthy weight
• eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains
• quit smoking
• exercise 30 minutes a day (more if you need to lose weight)
• manage your stress
• limit alcohol (1 drink/day for women, 2 for men).
• limit salt (especially in prepared foods) and eat more foods with potassium (bananas, cantaloupe, kidney beans, sweet potatoes, raisins)