February marks American Heart Health Month, which gives Liberty Lutheran the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about our nation’s heart-health dilemma and to share what you can do to keep your heart healthy. The Liberty Lutheran family of services offers empowering opportunities to its residents and includes Artman, The Hearth at Drexel, Paul’s Run, The Manor at York Town, and The Village at Penn State. Liberty Lutheran is also the parent company for The Becoming Center, a gym that specializes in the health and well-being of older adults.

While this month focuses on multiple aspects of heart health, including blood pressure, congenital heart defects and more, coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most prominent heart-health issues in America.

Heart disease, which causes an average of 610,000 deaths on an annual basis, is the leading cause of mortality in the United States.

As with all aspects of our health, the lifestyle choices we make have a significant correlation with the chances for being diagnosed with CHD.

Top risk factors for developing heart disease

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking 

Here are some healthy habits to reduce your risk for coronary heart disease:

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1. Manage Stress

Stress, although a common occurrence for many of us, can be a large contributor to CHD risk factors. Finding healthy ways to cope with stress is crucial to your heart’s health. Healthy stress management can consist of practicing meditation, consulting a therapist, and regular exercise.

2. Exercise

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, inactive people are nearly twice as likely to develop CHD as those who are active. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise each week for the average adult. Make sure to move as much as possible throughout your day. The more activity you do the more benefits your heart receives.

3. Eat heart healthy foods

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To adopt a heart-healthy diet consume mainly vegetables, fruits, fat-free or low-fat dairy foods, and lean meats. Avoid foods high in sodium as well as saturated and trans fats as these are known to raise blood pressure.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

Determine what weight is healthy for you based on your body mass index (BMI). Consult a doctor or healthcare professional for better understanding when adopting certain dietary changes.

5. Quit smoking

According to the American Heart Association smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in the United States and causes one of every fourth deaths from cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking can decrease your risk for heart disease significantly, as well as many other potentially fatal health complications.

Liberty Lutheran Empowers Residents to Live Well!

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When we make healthy decisions we lead healthy lives. Liberty Lutheran empowers residents throughout our communities to make healthy choices and live well with extensive wellness programs that benefit residents overall well-being. Whether it is daily exercise classes, engaging activities, or safely enjoying the comfort of friendship, our residents have numerous opportunities to experience fulfillment and joy throughout their retirements.

Discover the joy of living well! Explore numerous opportunities for healthy lifestyles within our retirement communities! Click the links below to explore our family of services.

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Artman ; The Becoming Center; The Hearth at Drexel; The Manor at York Town; Paul’s Run; The Village at Penn State