Celebrating a Healthy Heart

This February let us focus on heart health! It is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the importance of taking care of this vital organ through healthy lifestyle choices. Whether it is adopting a balanced diet, staying active, or managing stress, every little gesture counts to keep your heart in tip-top shape. Join us to discover tips, practical advice, and resources to help you make heart health a priority.

Why is heart health so important?

Heart health is essential for maintaining overall well-being over the long term. Taking care of your heart’s health does not mean completely changing your habits. Assess your risk factors, make one or two changes at a time, and see how you manage these changes before trying others!

For example, make conscious decisions about the foods you put into your body so that you consume the most nutritious foods for heart health while continuing to enjoy what you eat.

Here are some heart-healthy tips:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables, ideally half your plate
• Choose whole-grain products
• Limit red meats and other products rich in saturated fats
• Limit highly processed foods (processed or prepared foods high in sugar, sodium [salt], or added fats)
• Avoid or reduce alcohol consumption
• Stop smoking
• Reduce stress
• Have a regular physical activity

Here are a few resources:

• Healthy living
• Prevention & wellness centre
• Living well with heart disease
• Find out more about the DASH diet
• Hypertension Canada

Hypertension education program

Several cardiovascular diseases can adversely affect heart health, but hypertension remains one of the main causes. High blood pressure damages the blood vessels and leads to health problems if left untreated.

The CSCE offers a 4-session course on hypertension education.

Contact us to participate in the next program session.

The CSCE is here to help!

If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your primary care provider. At CSCE, you have access to nutrition services (dietitian), smoking cessation, and other programs, such as Heart Healthy Eating, the Hypertension Education Program, and several programs to get you moving more.

Is your heart health important to you? Contact us for help!