This February, focus on heart health

Published on February 03, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025 - February is American Heart Month, and the Oak Park Public Health Department is highlighting ways to maintain a healthy heart.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but you can take steps to reduce your risk. One way to increase heart health is to maintain regular physical activity, which can be as simple as going for a walk with a friend or while listening to music.

Oak Park residents can walk the track at the Community Recreation Center at 229 Madison St. for free, a warmer option during the winter months. Learn more about the indoor track at www.pdop.org/crc/indoortrack. 

More heart healthy tips:

• Commit to a walking schedule or other regular physical activity with a friend or family member, even if you can’t do it together. Text or call each other with updates or challenges. 
• Try a new heart-healthy recipe each week. Ask friends and family to share their favorite low-sodium or healthy recipe with you, or look up even more recipes at https://healthyeating.nhlbi.nih.gov/.
• Quit smoking. It’s hard to do but this one thing will make a big difference in your long-term health and wellbeing. Nicotine is highly addictive and craving or urges can be strong. Click here for some suggestions for standing up to the cravings and, eventually, kicking the habit from the Mayo Clinic.
• Prioritize sleep. People who don't get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and depression. With all of the responsibilities most of us juggle, getting the recommended seven hours of sleep each night can be tricky. There might not be enough hours in the day to get everything done, but getting enough sleep is just as important as some of those late-night chores. Choose a couple things you can do each night to signal to your brain that it’s time to slow down. Dim the lights, drink some herbal tea, play some relaxing music, read a book – whatever works for you. If you carve out the time but you still can’t sleep, it might be worth having a conversation with your doctor. Speaking of your doctor... 
• Get your yearly check-ups. A few medical conditions, left untreated, can be damaging to your heart. As we age, we are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, some infections, like gum disease can lead to heart problems, and some illnesses like COVID-19 and influenza can worsen existing heart problems. It’s important to keep those annual doctor and dental appointments and get your regular health screening tests and vaccines.
• Make a request to the Public Health Department to give a presentation to your organization about ways to prevent heart disease. Contact the department at 708.358.5480 or health@oak-park.us.