Protect Your Heart Health
by Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death in America for men and women. The good news is that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable with healthful lifestyle behaviors: eating healthfully, being active, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol, reducing stress and avoiding nicotine products, such as tobacco and vapes.
If adopting new healthy behaviors sounds challenging, take baby steps. You don’t have to join a gym to be active. A simple 30 minutes a day of walking is effective, and those minutes don’t have to be spent all at once. Even 11 minutes of activity every day can improve heart health.
Evidence shows that it takes 30 to 60 days to build a new habit, so don’t give up. Choose one small lifestyle change, such as packing a fruit or vegetable snack with your lunch or taking a 10-minute break to climb stairs, and try to stick with it for two weeks. When the behavior becomes an automatic part of your day, try adding a new one. Small steps can add up over time to a great change toward a healthier life.
For more information visit: go.osu.edu/tips4heart
