February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on the importance of cardiovascular health. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women — but you can do a lot to protect your heart and stay healthy.

Taking time to care for your heart can be challenging as you go about daily life, but it’s easier than you think to show your heart the love it deserves each day. Small acts of self-care, like taking walks, getting quality sleep, and cooking healthy meals, help your heart. Research shows that self-care can help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Self-care for your heart is really self-care for your whole self. You can improve and protect your health overall when you:

• Get a daily dose of physical activity, such as a brisk, 30-minute walk
• Cook meals that are low in sodium and unhealthy fats
• Take your medications as prescribed and keep your medical appointments
• Sleep 7-8 hours a night
• Manage stress through, for example, meditation, yoga, a warm bath, or quiet time with a good book or funny movie
• Try to reach or stay at a healthy weight by moving more and having snacks like fruits and veggies ready to grab when hunger hits

To learn more self-care tips to take care of your heart, visit: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.../self-care-tips-heart-health...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides a wealth of information about heart disease. To learn more about heart disease, visit their webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm

HazTek Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive safety management services designed to protect workers by enhancing workplace safety. For additional information or to learn more about HazTek’s services, please contact us at 888.842.9835, email us at info@haztekinc.com, or visit our website at www.haztekinc.com

Credit: NHLBI and CDC

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