Three Self-Care Tips for a Healthy Heart By Krissty Andaur, Wounded Warrior Project At Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), wellness coaches with the Physical Health and Wellness team make it their mission to offer plans and programs for injured veterans to maintain a healthy heart. WWP is kickstarting American Heart Month with helpful self-care tips to incorporate into everyday life. It’s no secret that the cornerstone organ of the human body, the heart, requires some attention. While it may seem like a daunting task, incorporating these daily actions a little bit at a time can help improve heart health and support overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
20
WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / FEBRUARY 2022
“Wellness is 360 degrees of self-care,” said Antonio Bonfiglio, a WWP Physical Health and Wellness coach “There’s a physical, mental, and emotional side, and overall wellness is what you get from taking care of all three. It’s essentially the byproduct of exercising, eating better, sleeping more, and taking care of your mental health.” Here are three self-care tips for maintaining a healthy heart: 1. Stress Management – When stress arises, our body releases chemicals that send signals to the rest of our body, affecting our mood, sleep, and appetite. When stressed, some people may turn to comfort foods, smoking, or alcohol, all of which can be heart-damaging behaviors. Instead, acknowledge when stress is present and lean on healthier heart options to help reduce your stress like meditation, yoga, reading, or even completely unplugging from technology for a bit. All of these can help relax the mind and body, helping your heart in the long run.
