February is Heart Health Month and a great opportunity to review your lifestyle to make sure you are doing all you can to take care of your heart. Here are some heart health tips from the Caspers Chiropractic team that could make a difference for you or your loved ones.
11 Ways to Take Care of your Heart
Schedule an annual check-up – It’s a good idea to get your glucose levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure checked at least once a year. Many people like to schedule their check-up around their birthday to make it easy to remember each year.- Eat healthier – Go through your kitchen and eliminate junk foods or overly processes foods so you will not be tempted. Find healthy recipes that you love!
- Shop smart – Plan your meals ahead of time so you can eat at home instead of eating fast food. Look to buy heart-healthy foods like whole-grain bread, fish, and vegetables.
- Ask your server – If you do dine out, don’t be afraid to ask your server how the menu items are prepared. Often there are alternative preparation methods or side options that may not be on the menu.
- Maintain a healthy weight – If your body weighs more, your heart needs to work harder to do everyday tasks. Maintaining a healthy weight is good for your overall health and your heart.
- Keep moving – Opt for walking or taking the steps instead of driving or taking the elevator. Aerobic exercise is essential to your health, but even small bursts of movement is a great form of exercise. If you have back or neck pain, there are gentle activities too. Here are some more ideas to stay active in the Hutchinson and Skakopee areas.
- Get some sleep – A lack of sleep can affect your health in more ways than you think. If you are sleep deprived, it can affect your stress levels which also affects your heart health.
- Drink more water – Being properly hydrated can make a difference in your health in so many ways, including keeping your heart healthy.
- If you drink alcohol, enjoy it in moderation – Drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood known as triglycerides. When this is combined with high cholesterol, it can affect fatty buildup in the artery walls, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Reduce stress – Stress and anxiety can lead to high blood pressure. There are many ways to reduce stress including exercise, meditation, spending more time outside, listening to music, getting a chiropractic adjustment, and more.
- If you smoke, quit – It is hard to quit smoking, but will make a difference to so many aspects of your health, beyond your heart.
Stay Healthy this Month and All-Year Long!Besides keeping your heart healthy, an important part of your overall health is keeping your body adjusted with regular chiropractic appointments. Dr. Guy, Dr. Molner, and Dr. Daly can help you feel your best! You can reach Caspers Chiropractic in Hutchinson at 320-587-2292, or Shakopee at 952-977-9933. You can also click here to schedule an appointment. We’re ready to help! For more health tips and insight, follow the Caspers Facebook page.
Schedule an annual check-up – It’s a good idea to get your glucose levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure checked at least once a year. Many people like to schedule their check-up around their birthday to make it easy to remember each year.
