Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the American Heart Association’s latest report, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2021 Update (Virani et al., 2021). Experts warn that the broad influence of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely continue to extend that ranking for years to come.
Tips to keep your heart healthy during the pandemic:
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Stay on top of your health care – continue to attend your regularly scheduled appointments for routine procedures.
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Get to know the AHA “Life’s Simple 7” – don’t smoke, get physical activity, eat a healthy diet, manage your body weight; and control your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
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Overcome Covid-19's obstacles - unhealthy eating habits, increased consumption of alcohol, lack of physical activity, the mental toll of quarantine isolation, and the stress-inducing fear of contracting the virus can adversely impact a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.
References:
https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-disease
https://www.heart.org/-/media/phd-files-2/science-news/2/2021-heart-and-stroke-stat-update/2021_heart_disease_and_stroke_statistics_update_fact_sheet_at_a_glance.pdf?la=en
