Learn the Heart/Head Connection

A heart-healthy lifestyle can lower your chances of having a stroke, and it can also cause different mental abilities. In fact, getting plenty of physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and other behaviors that strengthen your heart can have a profound effect on preventing bad consequences.

Here’s what happens: Those unhealthy behaviors can lead to narrowing of the blood vessels. That reduces blood flow to the brain, and leads to hardening of the arteries of the heart and the brain. When your brain doesn’t get the blood flow it needs, it can begin to malfunction. As a result, you could experience problems thinking, trouble with memory, difficulty finding your way from place to place, and deterioration in cognitive function. If blood flow to the brain is abruptly blocked, you could even have a stroke.

Getting on the Right Path

You need to discuss any cognitive problems you’re having with your healthcare provider. You might undergo testing to evaluate how well your memory is working. You might also need to see a neuropsychologist, who can use brain teasers, puzzles, and other tests to assess your cognitive function and compare it to other people your age.

The next step: Strive for a healthy lifestyle. This includes getting plenty of physical activity and following a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean protein and fish. Maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking, and managing your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are all critical. Although healthy behaviors should ideally start early, it’s never too late.

February is American Heart Month

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.  The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention.

I hope this information is useful.

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Have a Supreme Day!

Sheila M. Wilkinson-Sanders