Listen to your heart, be Balanced You’s valentine this February

February marks the time of heart-filled boxes of chocolates and heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cards. February is also American Heart Month, a time when all people are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people in the United States. A heart-healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and lack of physical movement. Preventive measures such as regular movement that feels good for your body, balanced nutrition, stress management, and smoking cessation reduces your risk for heart disease. Balanced You has many heart-healthy tips and resources available to King County employees.

Heart-healthy tips and resources:

• Quit tobacco: There is a link between tobacco use and heart disease. We know that quitting tobacco isn’t easy and Balanced You has many resources available to help you quit smoking and kick tobacco for good.
  
• Get Movin’: Being active is key to reducing your risk for heart disease. Balanced You hosts these 30-minute move breaks during the workday. They are free and virtual so you can tap in from anywhere and benefit from the instruction of a certified trainer.
  
• Workout at work: Balanced You maintains over 20 King County worksite activity centers for employees to get moderate levels of physical activity and to stay active.
  
• Heart-healthy nutrition: A healthy diet that is low in sodium and saturated fat is key to heart disease prevention. 
  
• Diabetes prevention: King County offers a diabetes prevention program through Omada, a virtual care program to help you build healthy routines that fit with your lifestyle. King County employees and their family members can receive the Omada diabetes prevention program at no cost.

As we observe American Heart Month, join Balanced You’s commitment to heart health and be our valentine. Together, we can work towards a future where heart disease is no longer the leading cause of death, and all people can live longer, healthier lives.