Try 7 Simple Steps
(Utica, NY – Feb. 2013) 
February’s American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day has Americans focused on all things heart. The American Heart Association wants people to start by loving their own hearts first. Improvements in heart health can be made by focusing on seven simple lifestyle behaviors.
The American Heart Association has identified seven health factors and lifestyle behaviors to measure and track called “Life’s Simple Seven.” Improvements in these seven areas can greatly impact quality of life and life span.
- Stop smoking
- Get active
- Lose weight
- Eat better
- Manage blood pressure
- Control cholesterol
- Reduce blood sugar
My Life Check is heart health assessment to gauge health in the seven areas. It’s based on the knowledge and expertise of medical experts from the American Heart Association.
The My Life Check heart score demonstrates what simple steps you may need to take to improve your heart health and quality of life. From there you will be directed to specific action plans that will teach you how to change your behaviors and move you closer to your individual health goals.
My Life Check was designed by the American Heart Association with the goal of improved health by educating the public on how best to live. These measures have one unique thing in common: any person can make these changes, the steps are not expensive to take and even modest improvements to your health will make a big difference.
It’s never too late to make better choices for health and Heart Month is a great time to start. The American Heart Association recommends starting with small, simple changes and goals. The idea is to eventually make healthy choices the majority of the time.
Research shows that for every hour of exercise, you can gain two hours in life expectancy. And those who can reach cardiovascular wellness goals by age 50 can expect to live another 40 years free from heart disease and stroke.
Find out where you stand with the Simple 7 by taking the My Life Check assessment at www.heart.org/MyLifeCheck.