Only 13% of Americans are aware that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women. Poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking increases the risk of disease in the heart and blood vessels. Once our precious arteries become clogged, oxygen rich blood slows or stops flowing altogether so its important to preserve the health of our bodies.
There is a misconception that you must be overweight and sedentary to be effected but as millions of sisters, mothers and daughters have come to find out, even virtually healthy people are falling prey to the disease. Fortunately, heart disease is completely preventable, and the sooner one takes steps to stregthen her heart, the better her chances are of avoiding high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack.
Sometimes, its hard to find nutritious and good tasting food around campus but incorporating foods from each of the six food groups into your diet, ripe with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables does wonders to decrease the amount of nasty plaque that naturally builds up in our arteries over the span of a lifetime.  Doing something as simple as keeping a small bag of baby carrots or cholesterol lowering nuts on hand is both an economical and healthy way to stay energized and you can always keep a stash readily available in your dorm room. Squeezing in 30 minutes of exercise a day (anything from walking to jogging) has been proven to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and weight. Its tempting to ride the elevator everywhere but just think of the good you’d be doing your heart if you opt to take the stairs between classes.
Smoking is obviously a definite no-no, but with smoking the highest among 18-24 year-olds, chances are more than a few of you are lighting up. Despite all of the obvious health reasons, if you still can’t bring yourself to quit, do yourself a favor and try smoking a little less; even small changes can do a world of good. Your heart will thank you.
