It is February and winter is slowly coming to a close. We celebrate several holidays during this month, from Valentine’s Day to President’s Day. Also, we recognize heart health for women on the first Friday. I hope that you have all been taking good care of yourselves since the New Year began. Our main focus for this year is to really practice how to take care of ourselves. That’s right - we’re going to be just a little selfish. It’s really not a bad word. Remember, if you are in good health, you can take better care of your loved ones.
Last month we reviewed how to make SMART goals for ourselves. One of your goals for the near future should be to get into your physician’s office for that checkup you keep putting off. Having a real heart-to-heart with your primary care doctor will give you some valuable information to help keep your heart in top shape.
Some of the points you will want to cover with the doctor are resting heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol readings. These are three factors of health that you have a quite a bit of control over. Yes, family history should not be ignored, but you can make a difference to benefit your health. Be responsible for making positive changes in how you eat, move your body, and how you handle stress. It doesn’t have to be hard. Think about these simple suggestions that my clients have come up with:
