What should women know about heart health to prevent hypertension and heart disease?
First, a few facts
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in America. While heart disease is typically associated with men, it is actually seen equally often in females. According to the Centre for Disease Control, heart problems can occur with angina (pain in the chest, neck, throat and more) or with no symptoms at all.
What foods are best for a healthy heart?
Pack at least half of your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables to start. Choose good proteins like skinless poultry, fish, eggs, beans and unsalted nuts. (Harvard School of Public Health estimates that cutting back on red meat would prevent one in ten deaths related to heart disease!) Finally, when adding grain to a meal, choose whole grains like brown rice, whole rye, buckwheat or oatmeal.
Salt is bad, but sea salt is good…right?
While sea salt is more natural than table salt, it packs an equal amount of sodium. The Office on Women’s Health recommends only 1 teaspoon of salt per day. So whether you’re using table or sea salt, limit how much you eat per day. Also be on the look out for pesky processed food with hidden sodium! Processed cheese, canned soups and breaded chicken usually have lots of hidden salts. We recommend always checking the nutrition labels before eating.
Tips for keeping a healthy heart
While eating right and exercising are important, there are a number of other ways to keep your heart fit. Limit drinking and smoking as much as you can. The Centre for Disease Control recommends no more than one unit of alcohol (one glass of wine or one beer) per day.
Track your heart
Most importantly, keep track of your heart by monitoring your blood pressure. QardioArm can track your blood pressure from home, work or on the go. Try comparing your blood pressure in different places so you can identify where you feel stressed or relaxed. Knowing what causes stress helps you figure out how to alleviate it. This will benefit your heart long term, we promise! Don’t own a blood pressure device already? Buy your QardioArm here!
Sources:
Women’s Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Harvard T.H Chan School
