Rise Above Heart Failure by making small lifestyle changes.
This post is sponsored by the American Heart Association to help raise awareness about heart failure
Do you know what heart failure is? I have to be honest – I thought I did, but I quickly realized I really didn’t after doing a little bit of research.
If you don’t know what heart failure is, don’t feel bad. It may be one of the most misunderstood major health issues facing the country today, but its impact is undeniable.
Here are some things I learned that were shocking:
- Heart failure will impact 1 in 5 Americans in their lifetime
- Heart failure is a chronic and deadly condition that contributes to 1 out of every 9 deaths in America, sending more older Americans to the hospital than any other condition, and is consuming national healthcare dollars at an increasingly alarming rate
- It’s estimated that the number of patients with heart failure will increase by 22% by 2030
Heart failure is a serious issue that needs our attention. As the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting cardiovascular diseases, the American Heart Association is beginning to chart a course to help improve the lives of Americans with this devastating condition.
So, what is heart failure? Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body.
What can you do to stay healthy and prevent heart failure? Small changes in lifestyle eventually add up to big results, such as eating a heart healthy diet (low on fat and salt and high in fruits, vegetables and fiber) or exercising more.
I’m very fortunate in that I am currently in great health. I give a lot of credit to my mom and grandmother who were both very health conscious. My grandmother used to go on long walks every day and my mom cooked very healthy. We didn’t grow up eating sweets; fruit was our dessert. I’ve tried to continue this healthy way of life with my own family.
Although I am in great health right now, I want to make sure I stay in good health as I get older.
I’ve created a Heartie to remind me what inspires me to stay healthy ~ my four boys. See these little cuties? I want to be around to see my boys mature into young adults, play with my grandkids one day, travel to my bucket-list destinations, and ride into the sunset with my hubby.
My kids inspire me to live a heart healthy life. What inspires you?” #RiseAboveHF
Click To Tweet
Heart failure is a significant issue that can’t be solved by any one person or organization alone. By encouraging one another with small changes we can make to live a healthier lifestyle, we can Rise Above Heart Failure.
So, today I’m pledging to improve my heart health by adding another 60 minutes of exercise per week. It’s a small change, but small changes eventually add up to big results. There are days when I’m “too busy” to workout or take a walk. No more excuses.
Heartie for #RiseAboveHF! #MyChangeOfHeart is adding 60 minutes of exercise/wk
Click To Tweet
You can help change the course of heart failure by:
Donating a tweet – Click Here to donate a tweet
Sharing your own heartie on social media using the hashtags #MyChangeOfHeart #RiseAboveHF, and tagging five friends to encourage them to join the movement
Watch this inspirational video – it reminds me of the movie, Pay It Forward.
Here are some ideas for improving heart health – remember…small changes add up.
Visit www.riseabovehf.org to learn more about heart failure, share your experiences and access tools and resources to help rise above heart failure through small changes.
Follow the conversions on heart failure using the hashtags #RiseAboveHF and #MyChangeOfHeart on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google+.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Heart Association. The opinions and text are all mine.
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