3 Key Ways You Can Protect Your Heart Health | AFC Urgent Care Chamblee

Did you know that your heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day? During American Heart Month this February, our team at AFC Urgent Care Chamblee wants to offer you some tips on how to keep your heart pumping strong for years and years to come!

Make Heart Health a Daily Priority

When you made your resolutions for healthy living earlier this year, you probably focused on exercising more and eating right most of the time. While you probably had weight loss in mind with these goals, they can also help in boosting your heart health.

Let’s take a look at ways you can help improve your heart health each and every day.

First, start paying attention to the nutritional labels on the foods that you eat. Aim to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and small amounts of healthy fat. Limit the amount of sugar and sodium in the foods you eat. And also keep an eye on the type of fat you’re eating. Foods that are high in trans fats put us at an increased risk of heart disease because they can potentially raise our cholesterol levels.

Second, you want to make sure you are getting enough exercise. The American Heart Association recommends you get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise. What’s that translate to? Just more than 20 minutes of physical activity on a daily basis. Totally doable, right?

Finally, how many hours of sleep are you getting every night? According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. To help obtain a good night’s sleep, stop consuming caffeine a few hours before bedtime and turn off all electronics at least one hour before bedtime to help get your mind and body ready for rest. Turning down the thermostat at bedtime is also a way to help ease your body into sleep.

We’re looking forward to taking care of heart health and other aspects of health for those in the Chamblee community! AFC Urgent Care Chamblee will be open seven days a week, with no appointments necessary.