February is National Heart Month, a time to take your health seriously not just for February but for life and Sykes Chemist can help you.

February is month in which we express our love and how our loved ones fill our hearts with joy. However, most of us know deep down that we should take greater care to make sure of a healthy heart. Far too many people, here in Bolton are dying due to heart attacks. Many of us live sedentary lives, we sit in cars or in our work places, often without moving for hours on end, then we go home and sit in front of the television for a few more hours. Plus, many of us eat unwisely choosing greasy stodgy foods when we know it doesn’t make sense, and we smoke.

What can we do about it?

Here are a few simple steps towards improving your health. Always, talk to your Doctor before embarking on a new fitness regime. However, you do not have to start running marathons, unless you want to of course. At home, make a point of walking to the shops, a brisk walk (weather permitting) will do you heart and soul good. Use the stairs at home, just walk up and down a couple of times every now and then, that will do you a power of good. Don’t use lifts so much in public areas, take the stairs (even walking down is better for you than riding in a box), you might be out of puff at the top but you will soon start to feel that the stairs are getting easier. Rather than taking the kids to school in your car, unless it is truly too far, try setting off earlier and walk there and back, you will meet the nicest people on route and do you heart a power of good. There are some excellent walks right here in Bolton, get out at the week end for a family walk.

At work, the same rules apply, take the stairs, walk to work if you can, go for a walk at lunch time. Make a point of taking simple exercise to break up your sedentary lifestyle.

Going to your local gym makes sense, so does swimming and cycling, any recreational activity works wonders for your heart, so long as you don’t overdo it. You gym will arrange a health check for you and a planned exercise regime to make sure that you don’t push yourself too hard.

Give up smoking. Seek help to stop.  If you do smoke you increase the risk of heart attack many times over. If you stop you increase your chance of being healthier very quickly. You know it makes sense.

In this month of National Heart Awareness, why not make a positive resolution.

I will take more exercise.

I will walk to the shops.

I will walk the kid’s to school, and so on. Your heart will love you for it.

I will eat my five (or more) a day.

I will stop smoking.

Best wishes.

If you need any help or advice, pop in to your local Sykes Chemist branch where their friendly pharmacists will be available to answer any questions.