By Kim Mendel, RD CDN
In 2010, the American Heart Association set forth what is called “Life’s Simple 7”. When followed, these seven tips can help individuals reduce their risk of heart disease. The research study was conducted for 11 years and people who followed 3 to 4 items from the list had a 55% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to those who followed 2 or fewer tips.
For many of us, this list may be a needed wake-up call. It is definitely worth your attention.
- Get active; aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days.
- Control (and know) your cholesterol numbers.
- Control (and know) your blood pressure.
- Achieve a normal BMI (Body Mass Index: 18.5-24.9).
- Reduce blood sugar.
- Stop smoking.
- Eat better.This list is a general guide. Eating better may suggest smaller portions, fewer fried foods, using less salt, and eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Reducing blood sugar for a diabetic may indicate better control. For those who do not know their blood sugar (you may be pre-diabetic or have diabetes) this might lead to a lab test for evaluation. Whatever this means for you, taking a look at this list and starting with even simple changes can help make your overall health better over the long run.There are many ways to tackle this list. A good start is discussing the list with your doctor/health provider who can order blood work and check your blood pressure. After looking over the list, realize that there are things that you can change to lead to a healthier heart and general well-being too!
Kim Mendel is a Registered Dietician and Diabetes Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at km432@cornell.edu
Absolutely agreed. Starting with even simple changes can help make your overall health better over the long run. Thank you for the share!
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