Make A Date With Your Heart! February is American Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is a great time to start taking steps to be heart-healthy.
- Prevent and control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
- Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
- Limit alcohol use.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Be active.
- Eat healthy.
Consider making a healthy meal for Valentine’s Day. Serve food lower in salt and fat content, provide more fruits and vegetables, and make less sugary sweets for an overall healthy Valentine’s Day.
Protect yourself from the cold and flu.
- Wash hands often.
- Avoid close contact when you or someone you know is sick.
- Get your flu vaccine.
Prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
- Abstain from sex.
- If you choose to have sex, use latex condoms which can lower the risk for some STIs and unintended pregnancy.
- Having a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner may help lower your risk.