SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Couples take heart -- one secret to a long and happy life together is a commitment to good health that includes investing in time for exercise, choosing healthy foods, and committing to healthy living habits that can be practiced together.
"Every year thousands of couples get the heartbreaking news that a spouse or partner has heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in the U.S.," said Elizabeth Thompson, MPH, RD, and clinical director for Healthyroads, Inc., the wellness subsidiary of leading personal health improvement company American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). "The good news is that couples can work together to prevent cardiovascular disease. By incorporating some simple daily habits, couples can dramatically reduce their risks for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and other risk factors for heart disease."
Below are some heart-healthy practices that couples can work on together.
1. Support Each Other While Making and Sticking to Healthy Living
Improvement Goals
Commitment and awareness are the foundation of most healthy
relationships. Improving your health requires you to become
aware of its importance in your life and also requires a
commitment to achieving a health goal. This Valentine's Day,
recommit your love to your partner and make a new commitment
to get healthy together.
2. Cook up a Healthy New Diet Together
One of the best ways to take care of your heart is to establish
a healthy diet that limits the amount of cholesterol and fat
you eat. Lowering cholesterol alone can reduce your heart disease
risk by up to 40 percent. By adding whole grains, fruits, and
vegetables to your diet, reducing fat, and eliminating
processed foods high in sodium and calories, you can stay
healthy together. Add a little "spice" to your healthy eating
program by taking a cooking class together or exploring new
health food restaurants. Surprise your spouse in the kitchen each
month by bringing home a new healthy food that neither of you
have ever eaten before -- an unusual fruit or vegetable,
for example -- and experimenting with it in new dishes.
3. Participate in Team Sports and Couples Activities
Exercise is a great way to strengthen your heart, so why
not do it together? Regular workouts at the gym can help you
reduce your cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight. But
exercise doesn't have to be drudgery. Join a mixed doubles
tennis league, a bicycling club, or a hiking club. Take dance
lessons together and meet other couples to go dancing with. Or,
simply commit to a sunset walk together. If time is an issue,
don't forget that chores around the house, such as gardening
and washing the car, can be done together and will get your
blood pumping in a healthy way.
4. Kick the Habit Together
Tobacco use killed 100 million people worldwide in the 20th
century and could kill one billion people in the 21st century,
the World Health Organization recently reported. Smoking not
only increases your chances of lung disease, but it raises your
blood pressure and heart rate, contributes to blood clots, and
lowers the amount of "good" cholesterol in your system. Kick the
habit together by joining a smoking cessation program. Even if
you've smoked for years, quitting now can dramatically reduce
your health risks. Quitting for 10 years can reduce your risk
of lung cancer by half. After 15 years, your overall risk of
death nearly returns to the level of someone who never smoked!
5. Enjoy Healthy "Time Outs" from Daily Stress
Evidence suggests that chronic emotional stress can be
associated with heart disease and even early death. Several
studies have shown that major life changes (loss of a spouse or
relative, or loss of a job, for example) can contribute to heart
disease, as can persistent anger or hostility. Couples who
experience frequent life stresses should incorporate healthy
"time outs" from stress, such as taking a yoga class together,
planning a vacation or an overnight getaway, getting outdoors to
a serene environment, or simply relaxing to quiet music.
Encourage your significant other to stick to his/her goals by leaving little notes of inspiration where he or she will find them -- on the pillow, in a desk drawer, or in some other surprise spot. Reward each other when you reach your goals. Flowers, a card, or a spa treatment together can all reinforce motivation.
Staying heart healthy together doesn't have to be a chore. With a little inspiration, it can be a fun journey to a long and rewarding life together. Use your relationship to empower your health and your health to empower your relationship.
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is the nation's premier personal health improvement organization providing clinical benefits, fitness programs, health coaching and incentives, and work-site wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide. Based in San Diego, ASH has over 600 employees and covers more than 13.4 million members. For more information, visit ASH online at www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800-848-3555.