YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City

A KeepMovingOKC Blog

 

February is National Heart Month.

To maintain healthy heart conditions is a lifetime commitment, but it is more than worth it. Prioritizing a healthy heart condition will help you to avoid other diseases or health issues. 

This February, challenge yourself and the ones around you to adopt a healthier lifestyle to better prevent heart diseases. Here are some ideas to make that change to a healthier way of life.

KeepMoving!

Exercising regularly is a step in the right direction, a heart is a muscle so we need to treat it like one too. Physical activity improves quality of sleep, lowers your blood pressure and improves overall heart health. 

A general goal is to aim for at least 20-30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day, or 150 minutes per week. Even just a few minutes of physical activity a day is a great step towards living a healthier lifestyle, and your heart will thank you for that.

Here are a few ways to stay active and KeepMoving:

Walk or light jog through your local park.
Do an at home workout, https://www.keepmovingokc.org/get-inspired/ymca/working-out-at-home/
Visit your local YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City location for a workout. 
Any activity that you like to do that gets your heart rate up!
Whether by yourself, with family or friends, whatever you do just KeepMoving!

*Before you participate in any form of physical activity, be sure to stretch and stay hydrated.*

Nutrition!

Daily physical activity will play a key role in strengthening your heart and keeping your heart healthy, but the foundation of a healthy heart and lifestyle is incorporating well-balanced meals  into your every day diet. 

Instead of grabbing those sweets that we all love, make the change and reach for your favorite fruit or vegetable. To keep high risk factors of heart issues in check, incorporating healthy foods into your diet is important as well as portion sizes. 

It might seem like a daunting task to switch up your meals, but don’t be afraid to start slow and focus on one aspect of your diet at a time. It can start with just focusing on your calorie or sodium intake, or even adding one fruit or vegetable to every meal, it’s just about taking that first step in making your new healthy lifestyle a priority. 

Sleep

Physical activity and well balanced nutrition go a long way in terms of better heart health and our health in general, but ensuring you get adequate sleep is a key factor as well. Getting a good night’s sleep can help with elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure. Adults need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to help prevent heart disease, children need at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night.

For more information on how you and your family can live an active, healthy lifestyle, visit the link below to learn about more ways your family can KeepMoving!

https://www.keepmovingokc.org/organization/ymca-of-greater-oklahoma-city/

Written by Corey Cargill, ccargill@ymcaokc.org