At Sagora Senior Living we are constantly creating new experiences to engage our residents and find exciting ways to showcase our amazing communities and how we truly embrace each moment we create together! One way we come together in our communities is by supporting healthy lifestyles in our residents and that starts with one of the most important parts of the body – the heart!
February is American Heart Month, and you have the power to take action to protect yourself against heart disease. Small heart-healthy actions like adding more movement to our day or choosing healthy foods, can have a big impact on protecting our hearts!
Why is Heart Health Important?
Heart health impacts every area of your life! Aside from living a longer life, a healthy heart can combat many factors that can impact the quality of your life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
- One person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.
- About 695,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2021—that’s 1 in every 5 deaths.
- Heart disease costs the United States about $239.9 billion each year from 2018 to 2019.3 This includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and white men. For women from the Pacific Islands and Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Hispanic women, heart disease is second only to cancer.
- In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
Because of its importance in regulating the very necessities of daily life, it is imperative that you look after your heart. This can be challenging, but with small changes daily you can ensure your heart is strong and healthy. February is American Heart Month, which focuses on cardiovascular health. During this month, the nation shines a spotlight on its number-one killer: heart disease. As part of this effort, we’re focusing on some ways that you can improve heart health.
Exercise and Heart Health
The benefits of exercise are great. It can improve your overall wellness by improving physical strength, mental wellness and more! It’s also a key part of a healthy heart. Studies show that exercise greatly increases heart health, and to reap these rewards, you don’t have to run three miles or complete an intense workout. There are plenty of options for you to choose from. Each week, adults should aim for anywhere between three and five hours of moderate cardio. While this may seem like a lot, just a regular 30-minute walk counts! In fact, for older Americans, that’s the most common exercise. Other ways to meet this recommendation include yoga, Pilates, strength training and jogging.
Diet and Heart Health
At Sagora Senior Living, we’re all about crafting healthy, delicious culinary selections for residents. Our expert Culinary Directors work hard at creating meals that improve overall wellness, while tasting great in the process. We have previously detailed how we help seniors improve brain health through diet, and how our Culinary Directors utilize ancient diets that have tremendous benefits. Specifically, our culinary teams focus on low-inflammation diets like the Mediterranean Diet. Inflammation plays a large role in chronic illness, and reducing inflammation can lead to better heart health.
The Mediterranean Diet built upon the diets of those in Europe who had less heart disease and heart attacks within their population. The reason for this was simple, their traditional diets avoided some of the things in modern foods that can be harmful. Thus, it has become a diet that many follow in America. Those who are trying to follow a Mediterranean Diet are encouraged to consume the following foods: vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, potatoes, herbs, species, extra virgin olive oil, fish, and seafood. The following foods should be consumed in moderation: poultry, cheese, refined yogurt, eggs, and other dairy products. Red meat, sugary beverages, refined oils and grains and processed meats (such as lunch meats) should be avoided or consumed rarely.
While there are many things we can do to combat heart disease, experts recommend that everyone should learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke and that they should consult a doctor if they experience risk factors or symptoms. During American Heart Month, may we remember the lives of all those who have been lost to heart conditions and all the people who live with these conditions each day. To learn more about heart health, please talk to your healthcare provider or visit CDC.gov/heartdisease.
We are proud to play a vital role in helping seniors live longer and the best life possible. With 62 communities in 12 different states, Sagora Senior Living offers seniors the chance to live in active, social communities where they can thrive on a daily basis.
To find out more, tour your local Sagora Senior Living community!