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February is American Heart Month: Heart Health for Women

(CARLSBAD, CA.) Since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed February “American Heart Month.”  Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion, and power women have to band together and wipe out heart disease. Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the U.S., the color red and the red dress have become linked with the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Don’t be surprised if you see people wearing red on Friday, February 4 – it is National Wear Red Day!

The Mayo Clinic offers these heart healthy recommendations:

  • Get at least 30-60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity on most days of the week - Jazzercise founder & CEO Judi Sheppard Missett suggests varying your workouts to include cardio, strength training and flexibility workouts such as yoga or Pilates.
  • Maintain a healthy weight - a body mass index of 25 or under and a waist size of 35 or less for women.
  • Eat between 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
  • Add Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet – these can be found naturally in salmon, mackerel, walnuts and flaxseed oil.
  • Ramp up your oral hygiene –poor oral health combined with other risk factors may contribute to heart disease. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily and change your toothbrush every three months.
  • Get regular health screenings - high blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels. Regular screenings can tell you what your numbers are and whether you need to take action. Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years, a cholesterol screening at least once every five years starting at age 20, and diabetes screening beginning at age 30. Risk factors such as family history of heart disease may require you to beginning screenings earlier.

Be sure to check with your doctor to map out your heart health plan.

Judi Sheppard Missett, who turned her love of jazz dance into a worldwide dance exercise phenomenon, founded the Jazzercise dance fitness program in 1969. She has advanced the business opportunities of women and men in the fitness industry by growing the program into an international franchise business that today, hosts a network of 7,800 instructors teaching more than 32,000 classes weekly in 32 countries.

 The workout program, which offers a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, cardio box and Latin style movements, has positively affected millions of people worldwide. Benefits include increased cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as an overall "feel good" factor.  Additional Jazzercise programs include Junior Jazzercise, Jazzercise Lite and Personal Touch.  For more information on Jazzercise go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT or (760)476-1750.

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Courtesy of Jazzercise, Inc. - jazzercise.com