Clem LacyPresident/CEO, Hammond-Simmons Group, Inc.
Try These Steps to Take Better Care of Your Heart
Every hour eighty (80) people will have a heart attack in America. In recent years about 600,000 people die annually from heart attacks. Lifestyle plays a major roll in whether or not you will have heart disease.
The opening pargraph is pretty graphic and sobering, however part of solving a problem is recognizing there is one. So, in addition to giving our loved ones flowers and chocolate this Valentine's Day, let's offer each other information and encouragement to take better care of our hearts.
My youngest brother's company has a wellness program and they currently are having a team competition for weight loss. So, far he has dropped six pounds and his team won the first week. Kudos to every company and person who makes healthy living a priority. Join us, you will be glad you did.
Following are ten things you can do that may improve your heart health.
1 - Quit Smoking. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your lungs. It's also bad for your heart. Of course stopping may be very difficult for you, but if you want to improve your health you know you should try. Try cutting the number of cigarettes you smoke in half. After a month try cutting the number in half again until you reach the lowest number possible or quite entirely.
2 - Exercise. Incorporating exercise into your everyday life is an essential step in preventing heart disease. Jog, lift weights, swim, bike, do yoga, even just start walking. The best workout is the one you will do and keep doing it. The American Heart Association guidelines recommend two and a half hours of cardiovascular exercise per week.
3 - Eat right. Good nutrition is perhaps even more essential in preventing heart problems than exercise. Eat colorful, low-fat meals and reduce sugar intake. Adding color to your meals will give you a variety of vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet that includes lean meats, colorful veggies and whole grains will go a long way towards helping you live longer.
4 - Drink less alcohol. Excessive drinking is another leading cause of heart disease. Having a glass of wine with dinner may actually help keep your heart healthy. Try keeping the number of drinks per day in the 1-2 range or none at all.
5 - Know your family history. Heart disease can be genetic or lifestyle related. Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to change your outcome. If your family has a history of heart disease issues, talk to your doctor about it.
6 - Manage your stress. Stress takes a toll on the heart increasing hormones in the body leading to increase in blood pressure, heart rate and inflammation. We all have stress in our lives and managing it is a large part of being heart-healthy. Relax and breathe deeply.
7 - Take care of your teeth and gums. If your gums are infected with disease, the heart most likely will show signs of disease. The bacteria from the gums will enter the blood stream and can affect your heart. In order to maintain healthy gums and teeth, brush daily with a soft bristle toothbrush, floss daily and avoid sugary drinks/foods. See your dentist on a regular basis.
8 - Take heart healthy supplements. Omega-3 fish oil supplements have been shown to help with certain aspects of heart disease (try our HSG Omega-3 Fish Oil, 1,000mg including EPA & DHA). Also, CoQ10 (try our HSG CoQ10 - 120 mg), flaxseed oil, krill oil, vitamin D (try our HSG vitamin D - 5,000 IU) as these may strengthen the heart and it's overall function. A good multi-vitamin like our (HSG Veggie Multi-Vitamin) is great to take daily, as many people do not get all the vitamins needed from their diet.
9 - Get a good night's rest. Getting enought rest is vital to good heart health. A strong correlation seems to exist between a lack of sleep and developing certain heart conditions. Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The best rest occurs before mid-night for most people.
10 - Keep your arteries healthy. If there is stiffnes to the lining of the arteries, called the endothelium, then you are at risk to develop heart disease. Avoid fatty foods, saturated fat and trans fats to protect your arteries and heart. Dark chocolate, red wine and green tea may help to dilate arteries, decrease blood pressure and lower cholesterol.
Our Mission at Hammond-Simmons Group, Inc.
To help people to feel better, look better and live longer.
Live the healthiest, happiest and longest life possible,
Clem Lacy
You can buy our nutritional supplements by visiting www.hammond-simmonsgroup.com.
Try These Steps to Take Better Care of Your Heart
Every hour eighty (80) people will have a heart attack in America. In recent years about 600,000 people die annually from heart attacks. Lifestyle plays a major roll in whether or not you will have heart disease.
The opening pargraph is pretty graphic and sobering, however part of solving a problem is recognizing there is one. So, in addition to giving our loved ones flowers and chocolate this Valentine's Day, let's offer each other information and encouragement to take better care of our hearts.
My youngest brother's company has a wellness program and they currently are having a team competition for weight loss. So, far he has dropped six pounds and his team won the first week. Kudos to every company and person who makes healthy living a priority. Join us, you will be glad you did.
Following are ten things you can do that may improve your heart health.
1 - Quit Smoking. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your lungs. It's also bad for your heart. Of course stopping may be very difficult for you, but if you want to improve your health you know you should try. Try cutting the number of cigarettes you smoke in half. After a month try cutting the number in half again until you reach the lowest number possible or quite entirely.
2 - Exercise. Incorporating exercise into your everyday life is an essential step in preventing heart disease. Jog, lift weights, swim, bike, do yoga, even just start walking. The best workout is the one you will do and keep doing it. The American Heart Association guidelines recommend two and a half hours of cardiovascular exercise per week.
3 - Eat right. Good nutrition is perhaps even more essential in preventing heart problems than exercise. Eat colorful, low-fat meals and reduce sugar intake. Adding color to your meals will give you a variety of vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet that includes lean meats, colorful veggies and whole grains will go a long way towards helping you live longer.
4 - Drink less alcohol. Excessive drinking is another leading cause of heart disease. Having a glass of wine with dinner may actually help keep your heart healthy. Try keeping the number of drinks per day in the 1-2 range or none at all.
5 - Know your family history. Heart disease can be genetic or lifestyle related. Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to change your outcome. If your family has a history of heart disease issues, talk to your doctor about it.
6 - Manage your stress. Stress takes a toll on the heart increasing hormones in the body leading to increase in blood pressure, heart rate and inflammation. We all have stress in our lives and managing it is a large part of being heart-healthy. Relax and breathe deeply.
7 - Take care of your teeth and gums. If your gums are infected with disease, the heart most likely will show signs of disease. The bacteria from the gums will enter the blood stream and can affect your heart. In order to maintain healthy gums and teeth, brush daily with a soft bristle toothbrush, floss daily and avoid sugary drinks/foods. See your dentist on a regular basis.
8 - Take heart healthy supplements. Omega-3 fish oil supplements have been shown to help with certain aspects of heart disease (try our HSG Omega-3 Fish Oil, 1,000mg including EPA & DHA). Also, CoQ10 (try our HSG CoQ10 - 120 mg), flaxseed oil, krill oil, vitamin D (try our HSG vitamin D - 5,000 IU) as these may strengthen the heart and it's overall function. A good multi-vitamin like our (HSG Veggie Multi-Vitamin) is great to take daily, as many people do not get all the vitamins needed from their diet.
9 - Get a good night's rest. Getting enought rest is vital to good heart health. A strong correlation seems to exist between a lack of sleep and developing certain heart conditions. Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The best rest occurs before mid-night for most people.
10 - Keep your arteries healthy. If there is stiffnes to the lining of the arteries, called the endothelium, then you are at risk to develop heart disease. Avoid fatty foods, saturated fat and trans fats to protect your arteries and heart. Dark chocolate, red wine and green tea may help to dilate arteries, decrease blood pressure and lower cholesterol.
Our Mission at Hammond-Simmons Group, Inc.
To help people to feel better, look better and live longer.
Live the healthiest, happiest and longest life possible,
Clem Lacy
You can buy our nutritional supplements by visiting www.hammond-simmonsgroup.com.