Time to Get HEART HEALTHY Jersey Shore style!
February is Heart Month. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day on February 14th – a day to celebrate the love in your life. But we are talking about celebrating and checking on the health of your heart.
Throughout the month of February, the American Heart Association marks American Heart Month. It’s a month dedicated to cardiovascular health. The reality is cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in New Jersey. Sadly, every 80 seconds a woman is killed by heart disease and stroke. Both will kill one in three women each year yet it is 80% preventable. Important to know: there are steps that can be taken to reduce your risk of heart disease!
This is the advice from the American Heart Association: GO RED!
Get Your Numbers: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose.
Own Your Lifestyle: Stop smoking, lose weight, be physically active and eat healthy.
Raise Your Voice: Advocate for more women-related research and education.
Educate Your Family: Make healthy food choices for you and your family. Teach your kids the importance of staying active.
Donate: Show your support with a donation of time or money.
Source: American Heart Association
To curb heart disease, we all need to get moving! The Jersey Shore area is a beautiful place to get outdoors and get healthy. Walking is a simple way to get fit. Studies show walking as little as 30 minutes a day helps your heart. We know the boardwalk is a beautiful place in the winter. Why not take a stroll along some of ShoreTV New Jersey’s favorite boardwalks: Avon, Belmar, Spring Lake, Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Heights– to name a few.
The American Heart Association also suggests you try these tips:
- Do housework yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it.
- Work in the garden or mow the grass.
- Go out for a short walk before breakfast or after dinner.
- Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving.
- When walking, pick up the pace from leisurely to brisk.
- When watching TV, sit up instead of lying on the sofa.
- Stand up while talking on the telephone.
- Walk the dog.
- Park farther away at the shopping mall and walk the extra distance.
- Stretch to reach items in high places and squat or bend to look at items at floor level.
- Keep exercise equipment repaired and use it!
Source: American Heart Association
Here is a link to the American Heart Association website for New Jersey. You will find more helpful heart health information and local events.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/Robbinsville/NewJersey/Home_UCM_FDA001_AffiliatePage.jsp
And while you focus on your heart health in and around the Jersey Shore area, let ShoreTV New Jersey, www.shoretvnj.com know how you’re doing! Send your photos to info@shoretvnj.com from your heart healthy walks around our Jersey Shore communities and we’ll share them on our site and social media @shoretvnj. Maybe the beautiful scenes you capture will inspire others to get outdoors and get moving!