February is American Heart Month — a time to be good to your heart — and knowing your numbers can help.
Cardiovascular disease is a top cause of death around the globe, according to the World Health Organization.
Here are five things to help you protect and care for your heart:
- Exercise regularly
- If you smoke, quit
- Skip salt at mealtime
- Balance your stress with enjoyable activities
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend knowing some key numbers when it comes to your health. When you have your annual physical, make sure you find out your blood pressure, body mass index and blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
The Wellness Toolkit LiteBlue page has more information, including a Know Your Numbers chart that explains how your numbers provide a glimpse of your health status.