Have you heard about National Wear Red Day? Maybe you showed up at the office last year and you were the only one not wearing red. Either way, you don’t have to miss out this year!
National Wear Red Day is observed on February 7, 2020 this year to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease in hopes of saving lives.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website provides stickers, social media images, and even posters to download so that you can share them at your office. Having these simple tools will help you spread the word and bring even more awareness on this important day.
If you are wondering how heart disease is diagnosed or how heart attacks happen, please make sure to take time out and visit the American Heart Association’s website for a wealth of information that could save your life or someone you love.
Did you know that heart disease claims the lives of 1 in 3 women? Think about that for a minute...that’s a third of all mothers, sisters, and friends. And more than all forms of cancer, accidents, and diabetes combined. This is something to educate yourself on and take seriously. Prevention is key.
Don’t wait for a scare to force you to make changes in your health. Put in the effort now to strengthen your heart. We can almost guarantee those that love you want you around as long as possible! Sometimes simple changes or implementing new habits can help contribute to a healthy heart.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” - Hippocrates
Let’s start with the top 5 ways to prevent heart disease.
1. Eat healthily.Fill up on fiber, limit your salt intake, and stay away from saturated fats. Do your best to stay away from fast food. When you are in a pinch, grab a salad. Most places will let you substitute fries for a side salad. Just ask!
2. Control your blood pressure.
Since high blood pressure does not often show symptoms, it’s important to check it on a regular basis. Your local pharmacy or supermarket often has resources to do this and it’s free. To see what a healthy blood pressure range should look like, check out this chart.
3. Manage stress.
Get the proper amount of sleep and find ways to relax your mind. Breathing exercises can benefit the blood vessels connected to your heart. To see the positive effects and many benefits that breathing exercises provide click here.
4. Exercise.
Get moving! The suggested amount of time to spend on moderate-intensity activities for adults is 150 minutes per day according to the American Heart Association. For children, it does vary by age. Remember that moving just a little bit each day improves your heart health. Start by walking 10 minutes a day, then add a few minutes each week. Your heart will thank you!
5. Keep those triglycerides and cholesterol at healthy levels.
Don’t skip those checkups and know your numbers. When you maintain healthy cholesterol levels your heart is healthier.
What’s next?
Schedule appointments with your physician. Don’t forget to ask for the cash-pay discount! If your provider recommends getting bloodwork done, don’t be afraid to ask if they know which labs offer discounts.
Oftentimes, you can find a lab that offers cash discounts as low as $12 per test. That’s a huge cost savings on the hundreds of dollars that insurance typically is charged.
So, get those red shirts out and remind your friends to wear red on February 7th! Print out the flyers provided in the link mentioned at the beginning of this post and start spreading the word.
Don’t forget to take pictures and share them on social media with #impacthealthsharing!
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