Heart Health Awareness Month: Seven Everyday Habits for Heart Health

Heart Health Awareness Month, celebrated throughout February, is the perfect time to focus on habits that protect your heart and support your long-term well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight seven key lifestyle steps that can lower your risk for heart disease and help you stay healthier over time.

Not sure what to focus on first? Our North Oaks experts break down all seven so you can see how these practical heart-healthy habits can fit into your everyday life.

1. Learn Your Health History

Knowing your personal and family health history can help you understand your chances of developing heart disease. If close relatives have had conditions like high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart problems, sharing this information with your doctor allows them to identify risks early.

Keeping track of your past test results and discussing any concerns during checkups provides a clearer picture of your heart health and supports planning for the future.

2. Eat a Healthy Diet

The food you eat has a major influence on your heart’s health. Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy helps your body manage cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Limiting foods high in salt, saturated fat, and added sugar also protects your heart over time.

The good news is that you don’t need to change everything at once. Simple steps, like swapping a sugary drink for water or choosing fruit instead of a processed snack, can make a real difference when practiced regularly.

3. Move More, Sit Less

Staying active is one of the best things you can do for your heart. The CDC recommends getting about 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, plus some strength-building activity on two or more days. Activities like brisk walking, biking, swimming, or even doing yard work are all helpful.

If you’re not used to exercising, start small. Short walks throughout the day are an easy way to build movement into your routine. The goal is simply to move more and sit less in ways that fit your lifestyle.

4. Quit Smoking

Smoking increases your risk of heart attack and stroke because it harms your heart and blood vessels. Quitting can start improving your health almost right away.

If you smoke, getting help from a resource like the North Oaks Tobacco Cessation Education course can make quitting easier and more successful long-term. Even if you’ve smoked for many years, stopping now can greatly lower your risk for heart disease, improve circulation, and support better overall health.

5. Take Medicines as Directed

If your doctor prescribes medication to manage conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, taking it as directed is very important. These medicines help control the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.

If you ever have questions about how to take your medicine or experience side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Never change or stop a medication without checking with your provider first. Consistency is key to protecting your heart.

6. Choose Your Drinks Wisely

Sugary drinks are all around us in Southeast Louisiana, from soft drinks and sports drinks to alcohol. These can both raise your blood sugar levels and contribute to obesity, another risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Choosing water over sugary drinks helps control your weight and keeps blood sugar levels steady. If you drink alcohol, it’s important to do so in moderation, defined by the CDC as up to one drink a day for women and up to two for men. Making mindful choices about what you drink supports healthier blood pressure and reduces unnecessary strain on your heart.

7. Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home

High blood pressure often has no warning symptoms, so checking it at home is a simple and effective way to watch your heart health. Home blood pressure monitors are easy to use, and your healthcare provider can show you the right way to measure your numbers.

By regularly monitoring your blood pressure, you can catch changes in your health early, adjust your habits, and work closely with your care team to protect your heart.

Take Charge of Your Heart Health Today

Celebrating Heart Health Awareness Month is a great way to start creating small, consistent habits that support a strong heart. We encourage everyone to choose one of these seven strategies and commit to practicing it this week.

Ready to Prioritize Your Heart?

Worried about your heart health? North Oaks is here to help.

• Schedule an appointment with your North Oaks cardiologist or primary care provider today to review your heart‑health numbers, address concerns, and create a personalized plan to make your health a priority.
• Learn more about Heart Health services at North Oaks here.
• Don’t have a North Oaks PCP? Find one here.