February is American Heart Month: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Learn how to keep your heart healthy this American Heart Month! When we understand our risk factors for heart disease, we can take steps to keep our hearts healthy. Over the next few weeks, we will share information from the National Health Institute and American Heart Association on ways to improve your heart health as part of their #OurHearts initiative.

Tip of the Week: Manage Your Weight

How does a healthy weight help my heart?

Maintaining a healthy weight can help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in healthy ranges. Unhealthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Overweight and obesity, which means having excess body fat, can increase your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, and lower your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol. Overweight and obesity can also increase triglycerides, a type of fat.

When you’re at an ideal weight for you, you’re less likely to develop:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

• High total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol,

and low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol

• Coronary heart disease

• Stroke

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Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics