It’s February, which also means it’s American Heart Month! According to AHA’s Hearth Disease and Stroke Statistics, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans as it is still the leading cause of death worldwide. That being said, taking care of your heart is kind of a big deal.

So, we are jumping on the bandwagon to help raise awareness, educate you on the facts, and provide you tips to maintain a healthy heart!

Did you know?

• Every 1/hour night decrease in sleep below the 7-8 hours of sleep per night is associated with a 6% higher risk of total cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• On the other end, every additional hour above the 7-8 hours of sleep per night is associated with a 12% higher risk of CVD.
• Only 25% of Americans reported achieving adequate physical activity.
• 1 in 7 male adults and 1 in 9 female adults are current smokers. Alarmingly, 1 in 9 high school students also have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
• Less than 10% of US adults met the guidelines for whole grain, whole fruit, and non-starchy vegetable consumption each day.
• Around 115.9 million adults have prediabetes.

(Access the full report at AHAjournals.org/statupdate)

When looking at these statistics, it comes as no surprise why heart disease is so common. Fortunately, if you fall within these statistics, it’s not too late to make changes that will decrease your risk for CVD. You can improve and protect your heart and overall health when you:

• Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep a night.
• Quit smoking.
• Get at least 2.5 hours of physical activity each week. Children and adolescents should get at least 1 hour of physical activity per day.
• Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than 1 drink per day.
• Have a well-balanced diet and eat foods high in fiber and low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol.
• Keep current on your doctor’s appointments and medications.

You may not see or feel the results of your efforts right away, but if you stay consistent, small steps can lead to big progress! For more resources and tools to help you and your loved ones make heart-healthy lifestyle changes, visit NIH The Heart Truth.

The Shippers Group is a leading national third-party logistics company headquartered in Dallas, Texas providing supply chain support to brand leaders and market innovators in industries including food and consumer packaged goods. With food-grade multi-client and dedicated distribution facilities in the United States, The Shippers Group provides supply-chain solutions with outsourced warehousing, transportation, contract packaging, and e-commerce fulfillment services. Since 1901, The Shippers Group has relied on core values of integrity, innovation, excellence, and safety to grow customer relationships, focus on continuous improvement, and engage sustainable business practices that deliver results. More information is available at www.theshippersgroup.com.