If you find something you love doing, exercise won't be a chore. Setting fitness goals also can help with motivation.
Editor's Note: This article is part of Route Bay City's Voices of Youth series, which features content created by Bay County youth in partnership with the Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center.
February is American Heart Health Month. Now is an important time to raise awareness for the problems that can occur with lack of cardiovascular activity and good nutrition.
The heart is its own system; as long as it has oxygen, then it will continuously pump blood. To keep that system working properly, it is very important to make sure you keep it healthy.
Keeping your heart healthy requires exercise and good nutrition.
Exercise powers heart health
I interviewed coach Logan Brown, a junior on the Garber High School tennis team, for some tips and exercises.
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The American Heart Association encourages people to learn how to take care of their hearts during Heart Health Month in February."My favorite way to get cardio in is from playing sports," says Brown. "It is fun to do, and you're not thinking about the cardio you're doing. Tennis and the stationary bike are my favorites to get the heart rate up.”
Brown also suggests gradually increasing the intensity of exercise.
“I prefer building up my exercise, starting slow then getting more intense over the span of the workout. That works better than straining yourself right away so you can keep the heart rate going the whole time."
Motivation to exercise can come from goals.
"Having a purpose and having personal goals in your fitness gives you a reason to achieve those goals and keep you motivated,” Brown adds.
Nutrition fuels heart health
Eating healthy is just as important as getting exercise.
Nutrition is specific to your fitness goals, but regardless there are some general tips that will work for most people.
· Include all food groups, which are fruit, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Eating these foods in variety is very important for a healthy balanced diet. Between 15% and 30% of your calories should come from protein, which helps build muscle and keeps your hunger satisfied for long. Learn more on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website.
· Watch your sodium intake. The CDC says most Americans consume too much salt. Excessive salt can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
History of American Heart Health Month
If you want to improve your heart health, February is a great time to start.
The American Heart Association (AHA), founded in 1924, has many educational programs to explain the risks of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular diseases. The AHA also leads efforts to educate people on how to achieve heart health.
President Lyndon B. Johnson officially declared February as American Heart Health Month in 1964. The American College of Cardiology calls the action a “pivotal point in the nation’s approach to addressing cardiovascular disease.”
A common misconception is that men suffer more from heart problems than women. The truth is heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, according to a June 2023 report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Fri., Feb. 7 is American Heart Association National Wear Red Day, which brings awareness to heart disease, especially in women.
National Wear Red Day is a crucial day where people should educate themselves and others about cardiovascular disease. Learn more on the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women website.
This month is a reminder to make sure we all take the steps to keep our hearts healthy. Focus on exercise, nutrition, and awareness of this dire problem that faces our country.
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