Heart Health

Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Modifications

• Reduce Your Risk

  Reduce your heart disease risk with the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7”:

  1. Reduce blood sugar
  2. Eat better
  3. Get active
  4. Control cholesterol
  5. Lose weight
  6. Manage blood pressure
  7. Stop smoking

  Watch this video to learn more about knowing your numbers and vital signs.

• Get Active

  Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Your target heart rate is the number of beats that is safe for your heart when you do exercise. This is good to know when you do aerobic exercise. This is activity that makes your heart beat faster. It includes things like walking and running. It includes cycling, and swimming laps. Your target heart rate is a percentage of what your maximum heart rate should be. The more fit you are, the faster your heart rate can safely go. This calculator uses your age and fitness level to figure out your target heart rate.

• Lose Weight

  Body mass index (BMI) is a way to figure out your weight category. Knowing your BMI is a way to tell if you are at a healthy weight, are underweight, or overweight. The higher your BMI, the greater your risk for weight-related health problems. Calculate your BMI with this tool from the CDC. 

• Manage Blood Pressure

  Do you know your risk factors for high blood pressure? You can’t do anything about some risk factors. But other risk factors can be changed. Learn about the risk factors for high blood pressure by taking this quiz.

  Learn how you can take your blood pressure by reading this article or watching this step-by-step video.  

• Stop Smoking

  If you are a smoker, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart and health. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation help or call the South Carolina Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

• Manage Stress

  Stress in small doses isn't a bad thing. Stress can challenge you to do your best. But too much stress can affect both your emotional and physical health. Learning what brings on stress in your life is the first step toward managing it. This risk assessment will help you identify your life "stressors."

  Once you know your life stressors, learn more about how you respond to stress. 

• Talk to Your Doctor

  Talk to your doctor about these lifestyle modifications at your next annual physical.

  Need a primary care provider? Check out our directory.

• Hands-Only CPR

   

  As many as 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital may not survive, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Thankfully, giving or receiving hands-only CPR before emergency medical services (EMS) arrives can double or triple a person’s chance of survival during cardiac arrest.

   

  If you see a teenager or adult collapse and suspect they may be experiencing cardiac arrest:

  • Call 9-1-1 immediately.
  • Push hard and fast on the middle of their chest approximately 100 to 120 times per minute until EMS arrives.
  • Perform compressions to the beat of a fast-paced song. The AHA suggests “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, “Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash, or “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z.

  For infants, children, and victims of drowning, drug overdose, or people who collapse due to breathing problems, the AHA recommends using CPR with chest compressions and breaths.  

  How to Perform Lifesaving Hands-Only CPR

• Women and Heart Attacks

  Women and Heart Attacks

  Women may have different heart attack symptoms than men. In fact, some women do not have any of the “classic” heart attack warning signs, like chest or arm pain.

  Heart attack symptoms in women can include:

  • Back pain
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Jaw pain
  • Extreme and/or unusual fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

  Trust your gut: If something does not feel right, call 9-1-1 immediately.