Licking Memorial Health Systems

Licking Memorial Health Systems - Measurably different...for your health

Heart Health Month

Heart Healthy Living

Life’s Essential 8™ are the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association. Better cardiovascular health helps lower the risk for heart disease, stroke and other major health problems. These eight measures are comprised of two major areas: health behaviors and health factors.

Health Behaviors

Eating better - choose a diet that includes whole foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking oils such as olive and canola.
Being more active - adults should get 2.5 hours of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of high intensity activity per week. Children should have 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Quitting tobacco - smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. and is linked to nearly one-third of all deaths from heart disease. Licking Memorial Hospital offers Quit for Your Health, a free tobacco cessation program to help individuals quit smoking.
Getting healthy sleep - adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

Health Factors

Managing weight - achieving and maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and improves quality of life.
Controlling cholesterol - high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol can lead to heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, reduces plaque buildup by preventing LDL from sticking to artery walls.
Managing blood sugar - high levels of glucose, or blood sugar, can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
Managing blood pressure - high blood pressure can damage the circulatory system and is a significant contributing factor to heart attack and stroke.