“To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” Buddha

 

Cardiovascular Disease Facts & Statistics

 

Did you know…?

 

  • Every year, about 600,000 die of heart disease in the US
  • Accounts for about 1 in 4 deaths
  • More die of heart disease than of AIDS and all cancers combined
  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women
  • Coronary heart disease is most common type of heart disease
  • Coronary heart disease alone costs the Unites States $108.9 billion/year
  • An estimated 80 million Americans have one or more types of heart disease
  • By 2020, heart disease will be the leading cause of death throughout the world

Heart Disease based on Ethnicity

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States that include:
    • African Americans
    • Hispanics
    • Caucasians
  • Heart disease is only second to cancer for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Asians or Pacific Islanders.

Heart Disease based on Geography

During 2007-2009, heart diseases were highest in the South and lowest in the West    

Exercise and Cardiovascular Health

Improving one’s cardiovascular health is very important to one’s life. The reason why improving one’s cardiovascular health is important is because the leading cause of deaths per year is cardiovascular disease or heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is so prominent nowadays because people are not getting enough exercise. Exercise is one of the most effective methods of decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease. It is recommended that a person should exercise at least thirty minutes, three to five times a week, preferably all days of the week.  There are number of activities and exercises to improve one’s cardiovascular health and it is best to choose one that you enjoy and love to do.



Here are some at-home cardio based exercises that you can do if you DO NOT have access to a gym:

  •      Jump Rope
  •      Jumping Jacks
  •      Burpees
  •      Mountain Climbers
  •      Squat Jumps
  •      Bear crawls
  •      Kickboxing
  •      Walking
  •      Running
  •     Dancing

 

Here are some cardio exercises that you can do if you DO have access to a gym:

  •      Cycling/Stationary Bike
  •      Treadmill
  •      Elliptical
  •      Rowing Machine
  •      Stairmaster

 

Another form of cardio is sports and here are some just to name a few:

  •      Basketball
  •      Football
  •      Tennis
  •      Swimming
  •      Volleyball
  •      Baseball/Softball

 

AS LONG AS YOU ARE ACTIVE, YOU ARE PROMOTING HEART HEALTH & WELLNESS!

 

Nutrition

What is Nutrition? How can it benefit our health?

 

Nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. Even though exercising helps us improve our cardiovascular health, eating healthy is also another way when it comes to improving one’s cardiovascular health.

 

We need to realize that consuming junk food or fast food on a regular day basis will put us at a greater risk of getting any type of cardiovascular disease. It’s important that we consume the recommended amount of vegetables, fruits, meats, and limit our intake in fats. Myplate.gov is a website where everyone can go to know exactly how many servings of fruits, vegetables, meats, and also fats they should partake in every day.

 

We also have to drink the recommended amount of water which is 8-10 glasses a day. HYDRATE! HYDRATE! HYDRATE! Water helps flushes out the fats from our system and we excrete these wastes later on.

 

When you eat right, you feel great! It helps you have more energy throughout the day whether you’re at school or at work. If you want to set yourself up on a healthy diet, you should think about planning the healthy diet as a number of small manageable steps rather than just one drastic change. If you approach these steps gradually with commitment, you would see great results!

 

 

Cardiovascular Diseases & Prevention

Now that you know that heart disease is the leading cause for death in the United States, let’s state what you can do to prevent it!

 

Heart diseases such as coronary artery disease can lead to a HEART ATTACK. First, let’s examine the signs & symptoms of a heart attack. They include:

  1.    Chest pain or discomfort
  2.    Shortness of breath
  3.    Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arms, or shoulder
  4.    Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint

 

It is EXTREMELY important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and to act immediately in order to get emergency treatment.

Prevention & Lifestyle Changes: WHAT CAN YOU DO!

  1.    Eat a healthy diet!
  2.    Maintain a healthy weight
  3.    Exercise regularly
  4.    Do NOT smoke
  5.    Limit alcohol use 


For individuals with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, these steps can lower risks for heart disease:

  1. Have your cholesterol checked
  2. Monitor blood pressure
  3. Manage diabetes
  4. Take your meds on schedule
  5. Talk with health a care provider
  6. If you have previously experienced a heart attack, consider cardiac rehabilitation