Contact:
Kent Donahue
kent.donahue@flhealth.gov
407-912-0132

ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Orange County urges everyone to be more heart healthy in 2023. Small changes in diet, exercise, and self-care can offer huge health benefits over time.

The American Heart Association offers Life’s Essential 8™: Your Checklist for Lifelong Good Health. These are tips on health behaviors for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, which will help lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other major health problems:

• • Eat Better: Include whole foods, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and non-tropical cooking oils, like olive or canola oil.
  • Be More Active: Adults should get 2 ½ hours of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Kids should have 60 minutes each day of play and structured activities.
  • Quit Tobacco: Use of inhaled nicotine, whether cigarettes or vaping, is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, including about a third of all deaths from heart disease.
  • Get Healthy Sleep: Adults need 7-9 hours per night. Children require more: 10- 16 hours for ages 5 and younger, including naps; 9-12 hours for ages 6-12; and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18. Adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
  • Manage Weight: Keeping a healthy weight has many benefits. Speak with your health care professional about what this means for you and how to achieve and maintain it.
  • Control Cholesterol: High levels of non-HDL cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Talk to your health care provider about your cholesterol numbers.
  • Manage Blood Sugar: Most of the food we eat becomes glucose (blood sugar) that our bodies use for energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart. Talk to your doctor about monitoring your blood sugar levels to better manage diabetes or pre-diabetes.
  • Manage Blood Pressure: Keeping your blood pressure at a good level can help you stay healthier longer. Talk to your health care provider about your blood pressure and how to maintain healthy numbers.

For information on heart health and Life’s Essential 8™, please visit https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8

Visit www.flhealth.gov/Heart to learn more about other resources that can be used to prevent heart disease.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.