You know that chocolate, wine and romance will win over your Valentine, but did you also know they make your heart happy?

It’s true! Certain foods, and even feeling happy and less stressed help keep your heart healthy. There are many other ways you can help prevent heart disease and avoid heart attack or stroke. Show your heart some love: talk to your healthcare provider today and learn the steps to prevent heart disease.

Matters of The Heart

You can’t control some risk factors of heart disease, such as age and family history, but there are many factors you can control. Heart disease is frequently associated with the following:

• Smoking
• High LDL, or "bad" cholesterol and low HDL, or "good" cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Stress

Get Heart Healthy

A healthy heart is not out of reach. Adopting a healthy lifestyle today will greatly reduce your risk of heart disease in the future. Here’s what you can do:

• Quit smoking
• Exercise (aim for 30 minutes each day)
• Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Improve cholesterol levels
• Lower blood pressure
• Control diabetes (with help from a physician)
• Learn to manage stress (try yoga or meditation)

Even if you’re doing everything right, it’s crucial to know the symptoms of a heart emergency.
Don’t ignore these symptoms:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Pain in the arm, jaw, or neck
• Extreme weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling faint
• Shortness of breath

Not All Hearts Are Created Equal

Symptoms can be very different in women, and may include:

• Weakness
• Sudden dizziness
• Pounding heart
• Shortness of breath
• Heavy sweating
• Feeling of impending doom
• Nausea or vomiting

When prevention isn’t enough, trust the Cardiovascular team at Indiana University Health to deliver the highest level of treatment and get you back on track to a long, healthy life. To learn more about heart healthy events in your area, visit the IU Health Events Calendar.