Heart and stroke month
Taking care of your heart is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Having a strong, healthy heart will ensure you can make the most of your life and spend quality time with your loved ones. February is Heart Month, with a focus on encouraging ways to be heart healthy.
The heart is a muscle and like all muscles it needs to be exercised. But as a population, we don’t do a good job of participating in physical activity. According to the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey, almost 46per cent of North Zone residents were inactive. And a 2011 report found that 85per cent of Canadians don’t meet national physical activity recommendations.
Our kids don’t do much better better. Only 9per cent of school aged kids in Canada get the 60 minutes of recommended physical activity per day according to the 2016 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Not only does this negatively impact physical health, it also impacts quality of sleep, academic performance and mental health.
What can we do to make a positive change? Many believe that participating in physical activity is a personal choice. It is, but only to a point. There are many other things affecting why a person is, or is not, physically active.
Let’s start by creating communities where walking, cycling and taking public transit are easy and attractive options to move around. Driving your personal vehicle will always be the preferred mode of transportation. But increasing the number of residents who walk, cycle or take public transit not only creates healthier communities, but it also takes vehicles off the road. This leads to less traffic congestion, safer roads, cleaner air and less required road maintenance.
Try incorporating physical activity into your work or school day. Take a walk during coffee break or play a quick game of tag during recess. Lunch time can be spent walking with a friend or playing soccer. You’ll come back to your tasks much more focused and calm.
Physical activity should be enjoyable. Do you dread going to the gym? Then try something different. If you like walking but hate going to the gym you will be more likely to continue being physically active by ditching the gym pass and putting on some walking shoes. Doing something you enjoy will help you make physical activity a regular habit.
For more information about this and other health related topics, visit ahs.ca or MyHealth.Alberta. ca. Health advice is also available 24/7 by calling Health Link at 811.