The perfect gift this Valentine’s Day is the gift of heart health. Along with Valentine’s Day, February marks American Heart Month, a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health.

Tip #1: Exercise
Exercise is good for your circulation. Thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise like walking or jogging daily should do the trick.

Tip #2: Quit smoking
Research shows that nicotine can lead to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the heart’s arteries), which also leads to heart attack. According to the Mayo Clinic, any kind of smoking, whether a long-time habit or even social smoking with a cigarette or cigar, is dangerous enough to increase one’s risk to heart disease. Avoid it at all costs.

Tip #3: Sleep early and properly
That means at least 8 Hours. Lack of sleep increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Tip #4: Take a break
Get a regular, peaceful, 15-minute break from work in the morning and afternoon. Getting a breather from your daily routine is guaranteed to bring down blood pressure and heart rate.

Tip #5: Eat healthy
Fruits, vegetables, and poultry are the way to go! Stay away from fatty foods and saturated fats.

*****Portions of this article were taken from www.americanheartassociation.com circa 2013********