February is all about hearts. And while your mind may go directly to Valentine’s Day, the color red, and sweet heart shaped candies, it also is American Heart Month. This is a time we must come together to draw awareness to heart disease, the No. 1 killer nationwide.
At Peak Wealth Planning, we care as much for your health as your wealth. What is the point of growing your wealth if you can’t enjoy it? So throughout the month of February Peak Wealth Planning will be dedicating its efforts towards bringing valuable insights into decreasing your risk of heart disease.
We’ve selected three experts to share their insights on maintaining health for a longer, happier life. As a Peak Wealth subscriber, you’ll be notified when these articles are available instantly.
Strength, fitness, and success is accessible to anyone willing to put forth the effort. Certified personal trainer Danny Iniguez will be sharing what he learned from 25 years in the gym… a journey that began as an obese man.
Making progress towards a healthy heart can begin today. Registered dietitian Kristina Adams Smith shares five simple rules for eating a heart healthy diet.
Heart disease can impact even those that prioritize a healthy lifestyle. Scott Vincent had been diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis in his late 30s, and will be sharing his perspective and advice on living with heart disease.
If you’ve an experience as well, be it a life changing moment that influenced your heart health choices to a bonafid expert in the field, please feel free to reach out & share your story with me.
We are excited to share with you our guest speakers’ stories for the next few weeks. Until then, here are some helpful pointers that have been mentioned in the field. For those who are already experts in maintaining your health, this can be a great refresher.
Five Key Factors That Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
How can you live a longer, healthier life? These five key factors can help you lower your risk of heart attack and they can help you build a powerful prevention plan with your health care team.
1. Know your risk.
About 47% of adults have at least 1 of 3 key risk factors for heart disease -- high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and current smoker. While your family history of known conditions cannot be controlled, you can take steps towards lowering the factors in your control and work with your health provider to manage the conditions you do have.
2. Eat a healthy diet.
Certain foods can influence blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation… factors that influence your likelihood of heart disease. Try adding these 15 incredibly heart-healthy foods to your diet and read more about the why and how to eat healthy from dietitian Kristina Smith (link to come).
3. Be physically active.
One of the best ways to stay healthy, prevent disease, and age well is to move more. American Heart Association recommends adults get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Read more from personal trainer Danny Iniguez as he shows you how to improve your fitness and quality of life (link to come).
4. Watch your weight.
Having excess weight contributes to your chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Dr. George Blackburn, associate director at Harvard Medical School shares, "Your weight matters at any age. Thinking it doesn't may be a fatal error, because obesity kills." Learn his recommendations for individuals over 70 carrying extra pounds.
5. Live tobacco-free.
If you don’t smoke, vape or use tobacco products, don’t ever start. There’s no such thing as a safe tobacco product. Smoking makes the walls of your arteries sticky from the chemicals, which makes it easier for fatty material to stick to your arteries. Smoking with a diet high in cholesterol will lead to heart disease faster.
Live well today for a healthier tomorrow.
The bottom line? Healthy living is the best way to delay or avoid heart diseases. This means being active and fit, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco and managing conditions that can put you at greater risk. Make it a goal this month to make progress towards improving your heart health.
Continue Learning About Heart Health:
About the Author
Peter Newman is a Chartered Financial Advisor (CFA) and president of Peak Wealth Planning. He works with individuals nationwide that have accumulated wealth through company stock, ESOP shares, real estate, or running a business. Peter applies his unique background to help clients achieve their specific goals and enjoy peace of mind.
Peak Wealth Planning offers personalized concierge services to meet your wealth management needs, including financial planning, investment management, ESOP diversification, retirement income, insurance, and estate planning. As a fee-based financial advisor based in Chicago, Peak Wealth Planning serves a select group of clients in Illinois and across other states.