Posted Sept 25, 2009
To take good care of your heart, follow these tips:
1. Know your numbers. Be sure to track your cholesterol profile, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
2. Be good to yourself. Pamper your heart and arteries with a better diet and more exercise. By shedding a few pounds or quitting smoking, you’ll take a load off your heart.
3. Create a personal health record, collecting your entire health story in one place, rather than having disjointed chapters stored with each of your doctors, can help you get better medical care, especially in an emergency.
4. Stress less; network more. Personal turmoil, pressure at home or work, loneliness, and other stressors contribute to heart disease, but good relationships with family and friends can help protect your heart and health.
Harvard HEALTHbeat Date: Sept 13, 2009