Keep it pumping…your heart, that is. Since 1963, the United States has used the month of February to observe American Heart Health Month. This February educate yourself and those near and dear to you about living healthy lifestyles.
Decades of progress in the United States on cutting cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking are being stalled by rising obesity rates, and heart disease will kill around 400,000 Americans this year, experts said on Monday.
Indeed, these are all staggering statistics but, we have to power to change them dramatically. We can change our undisciplined mindsets toward health. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. If we can trust God with our job search, marriages, children and finances we can surely trust the one who created these bodies to best teach us how to care for them.
One half of African American women will die from stroke or heart disease. African American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, however they are more likely to die from heart disease. Although African American adults are 40% more likely to have high blood pressure, they are 10% less likely than their non-Hispanic White counterparts to have their blood pressure under control.
African American and Hispanic American/Latina women should be concerned about getting heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors than white women. These risk factors include obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you’re a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.
Take action to reduce heart disease risk:
- Be physically active
- Don’t smoke
- Eat healthy
- Maintain a normal weight
- Know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides)
Source: WomensHealth.gov: Feb. 2010
Stay tuned this month for more updates, tips, recipes and other resources that lead to a healthier, happier you!
Blessings…
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