Go Red for Women: 5 Things Women Can Do to Prevent Heart Disease

One in three women dies of heart disease in the United States. As women age, their chance of heart disease only increases. No matter what age you are, we should all be concerned about this disease and what we can do to prevent it. The first Friday in February each and every year is National Wear Red Day. National Wear Red Day was developed by The Heart Truth to raise awareness for women about the dangers of heart disease. Heart disease is the number one threat to women’s health, and yet so few of us know how to prevent it. All women can help reduce their risk for heart disease by practice healthy habits. In honor of National Wear Red Day, I am going to share with you five habits that you can do to raise awareness and lower your risk of heart disease.

Eat a healthy diet

One of the best things you can do to help lower your chances of developing heart disease is by eating a healthy diet. Foods that are high in sodium, added sugar, or saturated fats should be limited. Focus on eating fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains every day. Following the DASH diet plan can help control your blood pressure and cholesterol, which can help lower your risk for heart disease.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is not only good for staying in shape, but it has many other benefits as well. By getting moving you are strengthening your heart, improving circulation, maintaining a healthy weight, and lower your blood pressure. These are all great steps to help you lower your risk of heart disease.

Be aware of your stress levels

Stress might not seem like a direct link to heart disease, but it can raise your blood pressure. Being too stressed can trigger heart attacks, lead to overeating, heavy drinking or smoking, and other habits that are bad for your heart. By becoming aware of your stress levels, you can lower your risk of triggering a heart attack or developing heart disease.

Get a good night’s sleep

The average person needs between 7-9 hours of sleep a night. When we don’t get enough sleep, we are raising the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and even diabetes. These three factors can put you at risk for developing heart disease! To help you fall asleep better at night, try one of these tips:

Remove all distractions from the room
Unplug at least one hour before bedtime
Make sure your room is completely dark
Avoid stimulation close to bedtime
Do not exercise right before bed

Spread awareness

Spreading awareness can not only help educate others, but help reduce the amount of heart disease-related deaths this year. This year on National Wear Red day, dress up and put on a red dress to support this amazing cause. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in women, so why not do something about it?

For more information about National Wear Red Day and how you can get involved, visit their website here to find out how you can make a difference.

Lea Bodie