Healthy Brain Tips
The Heart Brain Connection
You hear it all the time...if it’s good for your heart, it’s good for your brain! Well, if you need more evidence, a new report by the Global Council on Brain Health from February 2020 validates that “heart/brain” connection”. Here’s the latest thinking from doctors, scientists, and policy makers from around the world:
Practical brain health tips for individuals include:
1.) Do you have a baseline assessment?
It’s probably a good idea. Talk to your doctor about ways to support and optimize your brain health throughout your life.
How Can a memory screening benefit you and your loved one?
2.) Get moving.
Target a minimum of 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic activity to get your heart pumping. Add two or more days of muscle-strengthening activities every week. You don’t have to train for a marathon to get big benefits from exercise.
3.) Check your blood pressure.
When should you worry? If your blood pressure is higher than 130/80, you’ll want to check with your healthcare provider about what you can change in your diet or other ways to lower it.
4.) Know your cholesterol levels and check regularly.
5.) Know the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
Visit the CDC.gov for a list of these and remember that the signs for men and women are different.
Know the Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke!
6.) Know your usual heart rate.
What’s typical for you? Contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or if you have an unusual or irregular heartbeat.
7.) Check labels on everything, but especially prepared and packaged foods.
Look for things like added salt and limit your intake .
8.) Limit alcohol.
No more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
9.) Don’t smoke.
If you do smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
10.) Rest Well.
Aim for 7 – 8 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.
Source: USAgainstAlzheimers.org