An Affair Of The Heart

There are literally thousands of popular songs about the heart, ranging from rock to country to swing. Many deal with some aspect of romance. Not as popular are songs about healthy hearts, which is weird, since a healthy heart is just as important to healthy relationships.

Odds are, you know someone affected by heart disease and stroke, because around 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. That’s an average of one death every 40 seconds.

I bring this statistic to light because February is “American Heart Month,” which began in 1963 thanks to President Lyndon Johnson. At that time, cardiovascular disease was rampant, the cause of more than half the deaths in the U.S. Unfortunately, despite both Johnson’s declaration and major increases in awareness campaigns and cooking options, cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death for both men and women, across all demographics. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, heart disease affects more than 85 million Americans, and includes heart attack, arrhythmia, heart valve problems and the after-effects of stroke.

Heart disease - the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States - is not something that happens overnight. It takes decades to develop, which gives us the opportunity to turn things around if we are headed in the wrong direction. This means it is important to keep it front and center in our lives. Thats why making American Heart Month a priority is important. This includes making “National Wear Red Day” - which is today, Friday, Feb. 2 - as notable as possible. Individuals are encouraged to wear red in order to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, which in turn is geared toward saving lives.

Living healthy is important. The biggest part of living healthy comes down to simply making healthy choices. (Note to millennials: eating Tide Pods does not constitute a healthy anything in life.) While you can’t change things like age and family history (regardless of how much money you have), the good news is even modest changes to your diet and lifestyle can improve your heart health and lower your risk by as much as 80 percent.

Here’s three ways to live that healthier lifestyle:

(1) When it comes to food, enlist some support. Let family members know you are trying to make healthy choices. If you see a loved one eating poorly, try a gentle, loving nudge. Maybe offer to do the grocery shopping, or do it as a team to encourage one another. Are there teens in the family who might be going off to college and who might have a mini-fridge to stock? Taking them food shopping could be an eye-opening experience.

(2) See your doctor. For some, this can be the hardest step of all. Men, especially, are known to avoid a trip to the doctor. But what you don’t know could possibly kill you.

(3) Exercise can be really difficult to fit into our schedules. But it’s worth it. Exercise not only positively affects heart health, it also boosts mood and keeps your body stronger as you get older. According to the CDC, adults should aim for getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity - like a brisk walk - each week, or about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Try a family fitness challenge and compete with each other to see who can get the best results. And if you can put together a good workout playlist, both you and your heart will be happy.