February is American Heart Month. The purpose of the designation is to promote heart health, and raise awareness about heart disease. We all know it’s vital to take care of your heart. But what does that look like? How do you do it? Regular medical checkups are a given. However, you want to ensure you are doing your part to keep your heart healthy and happy.

• Eat healthy. That’s a given. Lots of grease, fat and sugar is not good for your heart – or any other part of your body, for that matter. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide you with necessary nutrients. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water.
• Get active. There are numerous benefits to exercise. Helping that blood to flow and getting the heart to start pumping are just a couple of good reasons to get moving. Power walking, stationery bike, and yoga are all great starts. Tae Kwon Do is an incredible way to have fun, build self-esteem, get in shape and be active all in one.
• Manage stress. We all have stress. It’s a part of life. The key is controlling it and learning smart ways to counter its effects.

Of course, there are numerous other ways to take care of your heart. But starting with even these simple ideas can make all the difference.

Valentine’s Day also falls in the month of February. Take heart-healthy action as an act of love for yourself … and those you care about.