With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s safe to say that love is in the air. And while you’re busy thinking of ways to show your sweetheart how much you care, your own sweet heart is beating steadfastly on and on for you. As a matter of fact, your heart beats about 100,000 times a day. Now that’s true devotion! An Awesome Organ You already know that your heart holds the huge responsibility of pumping blood to all the different parts of your body, giving them the fuel they need to function. But did you know that, when lined up all together, the network of blood vessels in your entire body measures tens of thousands of miles long? That’s the road your blood must travel every single time your heart beats—so it takes a lot of strength and dedication for your heart to carry out its mission each day. Amazingly, the unique type of muscle that makes up your heart allows it to do its job without any input from your brain. So while it’s working ceaselessly to keep your body going, your mind is free to relax and do other things. (Responsible, strong, dedicated, and selfless. Clearly your heart deserves sincere appreciation!) Don’t Be Heartless Despite usually being a star employee, your heart can give up and give out if its working conditions become too difficult. Disorders like atherosclerosis and high blood pressure damage the heart’s structures and make it harder for the heart to do its job. And since heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, our hearts must often feel taken for granted! Your heart works 24/7/365 with no breaks and no overtime pay, and it can’t exactly look for a less stressful job elsewhere. It’s up to you to treat your heart like the loyal worker it is and make sure it’s well-cared for. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to make things easier for your hardworking heart. Give Your Heart Some ❤ If you already have some form of heart disease, you can delay its progression (and if you don’t have it, you can prevent it) by making a few changes to your lifestyle. Here are three proven ways to show your heart you care: Quit smoking. The harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke weaken your arteries and...
There’s more to look forward to this month than just warmer weather and blooming flowers–May is National Stroke Awareness Month and National High Blood Pressure Education Month, and if you’re a regular reader, you know that helping our readers prevent and manage these conditions by making good dietary choices is one of our main missions here at 2 Your Health. According to data gathered by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), high blood pressure is the #1 cause of stroke, and stroke is the #1 cause of long-term disability in the United States.* That’s why the American Heart Association strongly recommends keeping your daily sodium intake between 1,500 and 2,300 mg. Dreading a diet filled with raw, unsalted foods? Never fear–2 Your Health is here! Browse our blog for a plethora of articles about conveniently slashing sodium without sacrificing taste. Here are quick links to a few of our favorites: Convenience Foods and Eating Low Sodium Happy Holiday Eating, Low-Sodium Style Shake it Up: 7 Delicious Ways to Replace Salt and Sodium *If you’re interested in learning more about the connection between these two conditions, start with this easy-to-read fact sheet over at the American Stroke Association’s website....
