Valentine’s Day: an important reminder to check in on your heart health
This is the Our View, prepared by the Editorial Board and the institutional voice of The Record.
Love in the air at CSB+SJU. Despite the snow and Ash Wednesday, family, friends and significant others found ways to enjoy each other’s company.
Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine’s Day is a great way to celebrate all the love in the world. After all, “all you need is love”—but we’d also add you need a healthy heart.
February is American Heart Month, an important time to raise awareness about the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 695,000 Americans died from heart disease in 2021, accounting for 1 in 5 deaths.
Bennies and Johnnies, we care about what’s on the inside: your hearts. The best way to keep your heart healthy for years to come is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The best way to boost your heart health is to eat right, coupled with frequent exercise. The next time you stop into the Refectory or Gorecki, keep these recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) in mind: Maintain a healthy body weight by keeping calories from food balanced with calories burned exercising. Consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Choose mostly whole grains instead of refined grains. Use liquid plant oils such as olive oil rather than tropical oils such as palm oil. Eat healthy sources of protein, such as from plants, seafood or lean meats. Minimize added sugars and salt. Limit alcohol. Choose minimally processed foods.
Regular exercise can significantly lower the risk of heart disease. Young adults should aim for at least 30-60 minutes a day, five days a week.
Don’t get us wrong, all activity is good. As winter weather returns to St. Joseph and Collegeville, both CSB+SJU have indoor athletic complexes perfect for a quick game of basketball.
The pools are open, too—check lifeguarding hours and grab your suits. Swimming is a great low-impact workout for all fitness levels. There’s no shortage of ways to keep active on campus.
As college students who balance busy schedules, demanding assignments and interpersonal relationships, it’s inevitable that we will feel stress.
It’s also become incredibly common. According to the American College Health Association in 2018, 63% of US college students felt overwhelming anxiety in the past year. Stress can be a large contributor to poor health decisions, like smoking or lack of physical activity, which can increase your chances of heart disease and stroke.
However, how you deal with stress makes all the difference. When things get overwhelming, slow down and be mindful of your body. You can relieve stress by connecting to your environment.
At CSB+SJU, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors—the Arb alone has over 2,500 acres of land, perfect for a short walk between classes or a longer weekend hike.
Students should also utilize mental health resources on campus. CSB+SJU Counseling offers Walk-In Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m. in Lottie Hall, room 10 and Mary Hall, room 10. Services are free for students.
Positive psychological health is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Although staying positive is easier said than done, UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center found that having an attitude of gratitude changes the molecular structure of the brain and makes us healthier and happier. Write down what you are grateful for, take a moment to say thank you or send a quick note to someone you appreciate—your heart will thank you.
In short, listen to your heart—eat well, get active and spend time doing what you love with the people you love. From the bottom of our heart, we hope you keep your heart healthy in the month of February.