The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognize February as American Heart month. Because there are crucial connections between having a healthy heart and a healthy brain, we’re sharing information from the NIH about preventing heart disease.
Bringing better heart health helps everyone
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Most middle-aged and young adults have one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or being a smoker or overweight. Having multiple risk factors increases your risk of heart disease. The good news is that there’s a lot we can do to prevent it.
Connecting with Others is Good for Your Heart
Research shows that people with close relationships at home, work, or in their community tend to be healthier and live longer. One reason, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is that we’re more successful at meeting our health goals when we work on them with others.
Feeling connected with others and having positive, close relationships benefit our overall health, including our blood pressure and weight. Having people in our lives who motivate and care for us helps, as do feelings of closeness and companionship.
Lifestyle Tips
Here are some facts, how-to tips, and resources to inspire you to join with others, even if you can’t be physically together, to improve your heart health. Follow these lifestyle tips to protect your heart.
- Be more physically active.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a nutritious diet.
- Quit smoking.
- Manage stress.
- Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep.
- Track your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers.
You don’t have to make big changes all at once. Small steps will get you where you want to go.
Move More
Invite family, friends, colleagues, or members of your community to join you in your efforts to be more physically active:
- Ask a colleague to walk “with you” regularly, put the date on both your calendars, and text or call to make sure you both get out for a walk.
- Get a friend or family member to sign up for the same online exercise class, such as a dance class. Make it a regular date!
- Grab your kids, put on music, and do jumping jacks, skip rope, or dance in your living room or yard.
How much is enough? Aim for at least 2½ hours of physical activity each week — that’s just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. In addition, do muscle-strengthening exercises 2 days a week. Can’t carve out a lot of time in your day? Try doing 10 minutes of physical activity at least three times a day.
Aim for a Healthy Weight and Eat Heart-Healthy
Find someone in your friend group, at work, or in your family who also wants to reach or maintain a healthy weight. (If you’re overweight, even a small weight loss of 5–10 percent helps your health.) Check in with them regularly to stay motivated. Agree to do healthy activities, like walking or cooking a healthy meal, at the same time, even if you can’t be together. Share low-calorie, low-sodium recipes. We tend to eat like our friends and family, so ask others close to you to join in your effort to eat healthier.
Quit Smoking
To help you quit, ask others for support or join an online support group. Research shows that people are much more likely to quit if their spouse, friend, or sibling does. Social support online can help you quit. All states have quit lines with trained counselors — call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). You’ll find many free resources to help you quit, such as apps, a motivational text service, and a chat line at BeTobaccoFree.hhs.gov and Smokefree.gov.
If you need extra motivation to quit, consider those around you: Breathing other people’s smoke, called secondhand smoke, is dangerous. Many adult nonsmokers die of stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.
Manage Stress
Managing stress helps your heart health. Set goals with a friend or family member to do a relaxing activity every day, like walking, yoga, or meditation, or participate in an online stress-management program together. Physical activity also helps reduce stress. Talk to a qualified mental health provider or someone else you trust.
Improve Sleep
Sleeping 7–9 hours a night helps to improve heart health. De-stressing will help you sleep, as does getting a 30-minute daily dose of sunlight. Take a walk instead of a late afternoon nap! Family members and friends: remind each other to turn off the screen and stick to a regular bedtime. Instead of looking at your phone or the TV before bed, relax by listening to music, reading, or taking a bath.
Track your Heart Health Numbers, Together
Keeping a log of your blood pressure, weight goals, physical activity, and, if you have diabetes, your blood sugar will help you stay on a heart-healthy track. Ask your friends or family to join you in the effort.
Visit www.hearttruth.gov for more information and tools for practicing heart healthy lifestyle factors.
Related events:
Personalize your path to a healthy brain and heart
Ebenezer Family Worship Center, 3132 N. Dr. MLK Drive, Milwaukee, WI
February 27, 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Join us! A community conversation hosted by Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute Regional Milwaukee Office about the important links between heart and brain health. Learn tools to map your own personalized path to a healthy brain and healthy heart. Blood pressure checks available.