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Home > Active Older Adults > Improve Your Heart Health

Improve Your Heart Health

February 7, 2016

 

weight liftingFebruary is American Heart Month, and as a leading nonprofit dedicated to improving the nation’s health, the North Penn YMCA offers the following tips to help families in our community be heart healthy.

  1. Get Physical: Being physically active every day is fun and can improve the function of your heart. Plan and schedule opportunities for active play; for example, include a brisk 10-minute trip around the block after meals or a 10-minute walking break during the day. If your family enjoys active video games, select versions that require moving the body’s large muscle groups while playing.
  1. Take a Snooze: Lack of sleep can be associated with elevated cholesterol and blood pressure. Adults need at least seven, but no more than nine hours of sleep at night to aid with the prevention of heart disease. Children need 10-12 hours of sleep per night. Develop bedtime routines for the whole family to assist with falling asleep faster and staying asleep.
  1. Shape Up Those Recipes: Makeover your family’s favorite recipes by reducing the amount of salt and saturated fat and substituting a lower fat food without sacrificing tastes. For example, use low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream and skip the seasoning packet and use pepper and olive oil instead. Read food labels to learn more about what is in the package, select foods that have less than 1,000 mg of sodium per serving.
  1. Feeling the Pressure: According to the American Heart Association lowering or maintaining normal blood pressure can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke. Nearly 1 in 3 adults (about 78 million people) has high blood pressure and more than half of them don’t have it under control. Start self-monitoring your blood pressure and know the numbers. Discuss the results with you doctor if needed.
  1. Play Together: Spending time together as a family is a great way to reduce stress, which is important to heart health. Make homemade valentines for your children’s classmates or build a snow fort together in the yard or the park.

Filed Under: Active Older Adults, Families, Harleysville Childhood Center, Health & Wellness, HUGS Day Care, Indian Valley Branch, Lansdale Branch

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The North Penn YMCA provides programs and services for children, teens, seniors, families and those with special needs in the North Penn, Indian Valley and Perkiomen Valley communities. Our programs, available for all ages and abilities, include childcare, swimming, sports, group and individual exercise, character building, social activities and volunteer opportunities.

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HARLEYSVILLE YMCA EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

311 Alumni Avenue
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone: 215-256-0767
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INDIAN VALLEY FAMILY YMCA

890 Maple Avenue
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone: 215-723-3569
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LANSDALE AREA FAMILY YMCA

608 E. Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
Phone: 215-368-1601
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2506 N. Broad St., Ste 208
Colmar, PA 18915

TAX ID: 23-1489848

Phone: 215-368-YMCA
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