--- title: 4 Healthy Habits to Adopt During American Heart Month description: During American Heart Month, Americans take the time to participate in heart-healthy habits. Here are some steps to keep your heart healthy. image: https://blog.hearthugger.com/hubfs/american%20heart%20month.jpg --- [![Tribute Media](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hubfs/Heart_Hugger_April2018%20Theme/Images/logo.png)](https://www.hearthugger.com) - [Contact](https://www.hearthugger.com/contact) toll free 800.798.2667 outside the U.S.408.395.2100 [![Home](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hubfs/logo-icon.png)](https://www.hearthugger.com) - [About Heart Hugger](https://www.hearthugger.com/about-heart-hugger) - [What is Heart Hugger](https://www.hearthugger.com/what-heart-hugger) - [Why Heart Hugger](https://www.hearthugger.com/why-heart-hugger) - [How To Use](https://www.hearthugger.com/how-to-use) - [Sizing and Fitting](https://www.hearthugger.com/sizing-and-fitting) - [Surgi Support Vest](https://www.hearthugger.com/surgi-support-vest) - [For Patients](https://www.hearthugger.com/patients) - [Heart Health](https://www.hearthugger.com/heart-health) - [Preparing for Surgery](https://www.hearthugger.com/preparing-for-surgery) - [After Your Surgery](https://www.hearthugger.com/after-your-surgery) - [Complications & Solutions](https://www.hearthugger.com/complications-solutions) - [Respiratory Complications](https://www.hearthugger.com/respiratory-complications) - [Sternal Wound Complications](https://www.hearthugger.com/sternal-wound-complications) - [Sternal Wound Stability (and the Pillow)](https://www.hearthugger.com/sternal-wound-stability) - [FAQs](https://www.hearthugger.com/faqs) - [For Healthcare Professionals](https://www.hearthugger.com/healthcare-professionals) - [Studies & Resources](https://www.hearthugger.com/studies-and-resources) - [Economic Implications of Complications](https://www.hearthugger.com/economic-implications-of-complications) - [Patient Compliance & The Clinical Pathway](https://www.hearthugger.com/patient-compliance-and-the-clinical-pathway) - [Tradeshows](https://www.hearthugger.com/tradeshows) - [How to Purchase](https://www.hearthugger.com/how-to-purchase) - [Find a Rep in Your Area](https://www.hearthugger.com/request-rep-information) - [Request Sample](https://www.hearthugger.com/request-sample) - [FDA & Medicare](https://www.hearthugger.com/fda-and-medicare) - [Blog](https://www.hearthugger.com/blog) - [Buy Now](https://www.hearthugger.com/products) *menu* menu [800.798.2667](tel:+18007982667) # 4 Healthy Habits to Adopt During American Heart Month Posted by [Heart Hugger](https://blog.hearthugger.com/author/heart-hugger) on Feb 18, 2019 1:56:50 PM ![american heart month](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hs-fs/hubfs/american%20heart%20month.jpg?width=1240&name=american%20heart%20month.jpg "american heart month") Since 1964, the month of February has been a time to create awareness about cardiovascular disease. During American Heart Month, Americans take the time to educate themselves about heart disease and promote [heart-healthy habits](https://www.hearthugger.com/heart-health) among family members and friends. ## Begin Taking Steps to Keep Your Heart Healthy 1. **See your doctor.** There's a reason why high blood pressure is sometimes called *the silent killer.* Without regular check-ups, you may not know your risk of heart disease until it's too late. Your doctor can check your blood pressure, talk with you about your family medical history, and answer any questions you may have about the causes and symptoms of heart disease. 2. [**Begin an exercise program.**](https://app.hubspot.com/content-detail/4072946/blog-post/57542161932/performance) American Heart Month is a great time to make exercise a part of your routine. Aerobic exercises like walking and swimming get the heart moving and can help lower blood pressure and strengthen your heart. Strength training builds muscle and can reduce the strain on your heart as it pumps blood through your body. 3. **Develop heart-healthy food habits.** You don't have to go on a bland diet as a part of your heart-healthy lifestyle. Foods like salmon, nuts, berries, dark beans, oatmeal, and dark chocolate are delicious additions to your diet that work overtime to make a difference in your cardiovascular health. 4. **Give up smoking.** You can use American Heart Month as motivation to quit smoking for good. In just one year after quitting, you can dramatically reduce your risk of stroke. Stay away from smoking for five years, and your risk of stroke is roughly the same as your non-smoking friends. Those are some benefits worth pursuing! Join the millions of Americans who use American Heart Month to begin healthy, new habits today! - Please Share: [Heart Health](https://blog.hearthugger.com/topic/heart-health) ![Heart Hugger](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Heart_Hugger_April2018%20Theme/Images/logo-icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=logo-icon.png) #### Written by [Heart Hugger](https://blog.hearthugger.com/author/heart-hugger) ### Please Leave a Comment: - Recent - Popular - Tags - [Heart Surgery Recovery (22)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/heart-surgery-recovery) - [After Heart Surgery (16)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/after-heart-surgery) - [Postoperative Care (15)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/postoperative-care) - [Heart Health (12)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/heart-health) - [Sternum Stabilization (9)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/sternum-stabilization) - [Caring for Patients (8)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/caring-for-patients) - [cardiac rehab (7)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/cardiac-rehab) - [Sternal Dehiscence (6)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/sternal-dehiscence) - [Preparing for Heart Surgery (5)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/preparing-for-heart-surgery) - [Respiratory Splinting (4)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/respiratory-splinting) - [Postoperative Bra (3)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/postoperative-bra) - [sternotomy (3)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/sternotomy) - [Heart Healthy Diet (2)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/heart-healthy-diet) - [Managing Pain After Heart Surgery (2)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/managing-pain-after-heart-surgery) - [Support Device (2)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/support-device) - [Hospital Safety (1)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/hospital-safety) - [Patient Safety (1)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/patient-safety) see all ©2018  General Cardiac Technology, Inc. 6489 Camden Ave Suite 106 San Jose CA 95120 800.798.2667 Phone 408.395.2100 (outside the U.S) Fax: 408.395.2113 powered by Tribute Media [a web marketing agency](https://www.tributemedia.com) | [login](https://www.hearthugger.com/user) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/hearthugger) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Heart_Hugger) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/heart-hugger) [Top](https://blog.hearthugger.com/4-healthy-habits-to-adopt-during-american-heart-month#top) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Heart Hugger" }, "datePublished" : "2019-02-18T21:56:50+0000 ", "description" : "During American Heart Month, Americans take the time to participate in heart-healthy habits. Here are some steps to keep your heart healthy.", "headline" : "4 Healthy Habits to Adopt During American Heart Month", "image" : [ "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4072946/american%20heart%20month.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.hearthugger.com/4-healthy-habits-to-adopt-during-american-heart-month", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4072946/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png" }, "name" : "General Cardiac Technology, Inc." } } ```