February is a month that tugs on the heart strings – between Valentine’s Day, a time to celebrate love, and American Heart Month, a time to focus on cardiovascular health – shining light on hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of deaths in the United States for both men and women.

This month, we’d like to stress the importance of heart-healthy behaviors. Being physically active is a major step towards strong heart health, specifically aerobic exercise and resistance training. Consider the following tips from our team of physical therapists:

• We recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, running, cycling, tennis or jumping rope. This will help improve circulation and help cardiac output, reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes.

• The American College of Sports Medicine advises two days per week of working out with free weights, on weight machines or with resistance bands (or doing exercises such as push ups, squats, or chin-ups) to help raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

• We’ve all likely heard of the numerous benefits that tai chi and yoga can have on one’s health, most directly on one’s flexibility and musculoskeletal health. This foundation of balance and stretching is critical in order to perform exercises that directly help your heart.

• When you’re craving junk food, consider opting for dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, or fruit instead of candy.

Be sure to check out these four heart-healthy habits here. If you or your loved one are in need of physical therapy to help you recover from the effects of heart disease, or want to talk with a licensed professional about ways to implement these heart-healthy strategies, schedule an appointment or call us at 1 (888)-PT-ROCHS today.

The Lattimore Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation Network was founded by Physical Therapists John and Cindy Shuman in 1992. Since then Lattimore has grown to 27 locations in 5 different counties. What’s unique about Lattimore is our patient experience. We tailor your 1:1 treatment around your individual needs, conditions and goals. With us, you’re more than just a number. You’re a member of our local community and we’re invested in your success. Call 1–888-PT ROCHS to experience The Lattimore Way!