Updated Heart Health Guidelines Add Sleep and Vaping to Checklist
2/1/2023
PONCA CITY, OK, – The American Heart Association’s heart health checklist now includes new measures for better cardiovascular health. AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 checklist added healthy sleep as a necessary component of heart health and emphasized the importance of eating whole foods, vegetables, lean protein and more. The checklist also added vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke as risk factors to avoid.
Sleep is essential for cardiovascular health, proper brain function and a strong immune system, but 35% of U.S. adults don’t get enough. Sleeping the recommended seven to nine hours a night can reduce the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, dementia and depression. For more restful sleep, stop using electronic devices at least one hour before bed and keep a consistent bedtime and waking schedule.
Smoking traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and now vaping is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. In addition to chronic conditions like lung disease and some cancers, smoking is also linked to one third of all deaths from heart disease. Smoking hurts others, too. According to the AHA, half of U.S. children between ages three and 11 are exposed to secondhand smoke and vapor.
“Heart health really is about overall health as the lifestyle that leads to a healthy heart affects the whole body and multiple organs,” shared Michael Schiff, M.D., Chest Pain Medical Director and Chief of Staff at AllianceHealth Ponca City. “People can dramatically improve their longevity and quality of life by adapting certain healthy lifestyles which include dietary modification, regular exercise and mobility along with avoidance of certain behaviors and use of substances that are extremely deleterious to the body. These include substances like tobacco vaping cigarettes, illicit drugs and large amount of alcohol and foods high in saturated fat. The human body has the capacity to heal with small amounts of toxins but when the systems for dealing with these toxins are overwhelmed then the bodies adaptation to these toxins affect multiple organ systems in a very unhealthy way.”
Other key measures in AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 checklist for optimal heart health include 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) and managing blood pressure and blood sugar.
AllianceHealth Ponca City will be launching a 28-day heart challenge for Heart Month this February. Sign up now to get great ideas for daily actions to improve your heart health, AllianceHealthPoncaCity.com/heart-challenge.
To book an appointment with a primary care physician AllianceHealthPoncaCityDocs.com/family-medicine-care
To help the community live healthier, AllianceHealth Ponca City launched a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at AlliancehealthPoncaCity.com/enewsletter-sign-up
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