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Focusing on Women on Heart Day: Staying Active and Healthy

Today is World Heart Day, its purpose is to spread awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD) which affects men and women alike. This disease, although it is responsible for one third of the deaths among the female population, is often misdiagnosed or underestimated among this gender because its symptoms are different and less obvious than in men, and the lack of information. The good news it that although CVD is extremely dangerous, it is also completely preventable with a few lifestyle changes. This is why this year’s World Heart Day is focusing on healthy heart environments. “By ensuring that everyone has the chance to make healthy heart choices wherever they live, work and play, World Heart Day encourages us all to reduce our cardiovascular risk, and promotes a heart-healthy planet for those around us.” One of the main factors that reduce the risk of CVD is engaging in physical activity. According to the World Health Organization, it is recommended for women to do at least 20 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Which brings us to another very important day which is taking place tomorrow, the National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. We decided to honor these two days, as they go hand in hand, and come up with a few tips on how to stay active and reduce your risk of CVD without spending money and accommodating busy schedules.

1. Make physical activity a part of your life: Many women don’t exercise because they simply can’t find the time. A lot of them have full time jobs and also manage most of the domestic work. But, being active doesn’t necessarily mean spending an hour at the gym. Playing outside with your children, walking to work; even getting off a few stops earlier to walk some extra blocks fulfills the “moderate” activity quota suggested by the World Health Organization.
2. Use available resources: It isn’t necessary to spend money in order to stay fit and healthy. Nowadays you can find exercise videos online that fit your preferences and fitness level which you can do in the comfort of your own living room, you can go jogging or walking around your neighborhood, join a community sports team, etc. Some research online will help you find out what options your community offers and how to take advantage of them.
3. Divide your time: If the ideal exercise time is 30 minutes a day, that doesn’t mean you need to do the 30 minutes at once. Sometimes we don’t have 30 uninterrupted minutes in a day. We recommend to set up a little routine, 15 minutes in the morning before you start your day and 15 minutes before calling it a night could make a big difference in your life.
4. Make it fun: Another reason why women, and men alike, don’t get around to doing much physical activity is because it can be tedious. But, it doesn’t have to be. Find something you truly enjoy, maybe a dance class at the local YMCA or dancing after work with your partner. Also, find a friend to exercise with. A daily fast-paced walk with your exercise buddy while you catch up about your day’s events, can be a fun, great way to unwind, and you’ll have someone to encourage you.

We hope that these tips on leading an active life have given you some ideas on how to apply them to your own. Insufficient physical activity is the 4th leading risk factor for CVD mortality, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you are a woman the symptoms of a stroke or a heart attack might include discomfort, anxiety, shortness of breath, a strange pressure in their chests, or difficulty speaking. For a complete list of signs and symptoms click here. We wish everyone a healthy and happy World Heart Day. Help us spread awareness by sharing this with your friends and family members. Information can make all the difference....