How Heart Smart are you? Take this quick quiz from the U.S. National Institute on Aging¹ and see if your brain knows how to keep your ticker in top shape (see answers at the bottom of this blog post)
TRUE OR FALSE:
1) Age is the biggest risk factor for heart disease and stroke True/False?
2) High blood pressure is a normal part of aging True/False?
3) Chronic inflammation can increase your risk of heart problems True/False?
4) Stress can hurt your heart True/False?
5) If you start exercising after age 60, it’s too late to benefit your heart. True/False?
How did you do? Surprised at the answers? It’s always good to continue learning on ways to better your health. How did you answer #4 . . . Stress can hurt your heart . . . True or False?
Stress can be so detrimental to our hearts that the American Heart Association² recognizes this and promotes an entire section of its website to stress management. It suggests these 10 healthy habits to protect your body – and your heart in particular – from the ravages of stress:
2) Exercise
3) Embrace the things you are able to change
4) Remember to laugh
5) Give up bad habits
6) Slow down
7) Get enough sleep
8) Get organized
9) Practice giving back
10) Try not to worry
Another way to keep your heart healthy is to eat a good diet. In a prior post, I recommended some heart healthy foods. If you missed it, you can read it here.
But the company I am with Jump to Health offers great products to support your health. Learn more HERE.
Any questions, you can also reach me at any time on 404-827-8102.
Wishing you the best in health and wellness,
Kathy
Independent Jump To Health™ Distributor
ANSWERS:
1) True – The incidence of heart disease and stroke rises steeply after age 65
2) False – High blood pressure is not normal or healthy; it boosts the risk of heart attack, strokes and kidney failure.
3) True – Inflammation is one of the many factors that could threaten heart health.
4) True – Emotional stress makes the heart beat faster and puts a strain on blood vessels.
5) False – Beginning exercise later in life still helps make the heart a better pump.
¹https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/aging-hearts-and-arteries/preface
²http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/FightStressWithHealthyHabits/Fight-Stress-with-Healthy-Habits_UCM_307992_Article.jsp
³Panossian A., Wikman G., Kaur P., Asea A. Adaptogens exert a stress-protective effect by modulation of expression of molecular chaperones. Phytomedicine. 2009 Jun;16(6-7):617-22. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2008.12.003. Epub 2009 Feb 1. Abstract available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19188053
4 Facchinetti F et al Stress health 2002:18:11
5 6 Darvinyan V et al. Phytomed., 2000; 7: 365.
6 Panossian and Wikman J Ethnopharmacol, 2008; 118:183
7 https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/881.html
8 https://nccih.nih.gov/health/aloevera
9 Dulloo AG et al Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1999, 70, 1040
10 Ibatov AN, Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr., 1995; 95: 78
Fact Sheet on Stress. National Institute of Mental Health/National Institutes of Health. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ health/publications/stress/index.shtml
Disclaimer: You should consult your physician before starting any exercise program or new diet to determine if it is right for your needs. Also, please know some of the links lead to products where I am an affiliate and will earn a commission. I only promote products I believe in and they are offered by a company where their products are backed by science and are high quality.