This past month was the month of love because we celebrated Valentine’s Day on the 14th. We receive heart-shaped boxes of chocolates from loved ones as an expression of their feelings for us. It was also heart and stroke month too. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every year, about 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke.* Stroke is also an important cause in disability since it reduces mobility in more than half the stroke survivors aged 65 and older.* That doesn’t mean that a stroke can only happen to an older person. A stroke can happen to anyone at any age. Heart health is a major issue for people with disabilities too.
Luckily, there’s no need to panic or think that you’re doomed to suffer from these illnesses. Even if you’ve had a stroke or have high blood pressure, there are things you can do to better your situation. A healthy diet can be of great assistance to help improve your overall heath. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in physical activity is also helpful.

If you’re a wheelchair user, there are activities out there to help you along the way too. There are plenty of adaptive sports and recreational organizations whose main goal is to help people with disabilities stay active. Whether you like fishing, bowling, or maybe even martial arts, there’s something available to fit your needs as well as your interests. Working with your doctor is another option that might be helpful in finding out what activities fit your specific situation. We all know that smoking is bad for our heart health too. Surprisingly, there are a lot of people with disabilities who are also smokers. Even if you’re a smoker now, it’s never too late to quit. Nowadays, there are patches, gums and even prescription medicines available to help you kick the habit. These are just two examples of things you have control over that influence your heart health and risk of stroke.

All in all, today is a great day to focus more on your heart health and start making healthier choices for yourself. Because of the choices you make, you’ll be decreasing your chances of stroke and taking care of your heart at the same time. All-in-all, that’s a win-win if I’ve ever heard of one.
What kinds of activities interest you in an effort to improve your heart health?

*http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_stroke.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/features/high-blood-pressure.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/relatedconditions.html

The author is not a medical professional nor is this article intended as medical advice. Consult your doctor to receive advice specific to your individual situation and before making any changes to your daily routines and or changing your diet.