{"id":4828,"date":"2025-02-05T10:04:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T15:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=4828"},"modified":"2026-03-03T11:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:39:54","slug":"simple-ways-to-keep-your-heart-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/healthier-living\/simple-ways-to-keep-your-heart-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Your&nbsp;hardworking heart&nbsp;pumps every minute of every day. In most cases, it\u2019s something you don\u2019t have to think much about. But&nbsp;you might want to give your heart a little more thought: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.,&nbsp;so&nbsp;it&nbsp;pays&nbsp;to support your heart as much as possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, there are some simple changes you can make&nbsp;in your day-to-day life&nbsp;to lower your risk of heart disease&nbsp;and&nbsp;improve how your heart functions. Here are eight ways to keep your ticker in tip-top shape.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Find a relaxing hobby<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re under stress, it can be tough to keep up with heart-healthy habits. Things like&nbsp;making healthy meals, exercising,&nbsp;and getting enough rest&nbsp;take a back seat. But&nbsp;stressful times are&nbsp;exactly when you need those healthy habits the most. Ongoing stress can raise your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease and&nbsp;a contributor to heart attack and stroke.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing&nbsp;something that relaxes&nbsp;your&nbsp;mind and body can help. Meditation is a great way to reduce stress and worry. It doesn\u2019t have to be&nbsp;hard or complicated. Simply spend&nbsp;a few minutes focused on your breath and being in the moment&nbsp;\u2014 and&nbsp;not on your problems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Activities that keep&nbsp;both&nbsp;your hands&nbsp;and&nbsp;mind&nbsp;busy can also help you relax. Examples include&nbsp;knitting, woodworking, playing chess,&nbsp;and&nbsp;doing crossword&nbsp;puzzles.&nbsp;Try spending 15 minutes each day involved in a hobby or a project that you really enjoy and doesn\u2019t cause stress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Get your heart pumping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The heart is a muscle,&nbsp;so working out makes it stronger. \u201cDo something that gets your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes at a time,\u201d&nbsp;says cardiologist Stephanie&nbsp;Coulter, MD.&nbsp;Dr. Coulter is&nbsp;an&nbsp;assistant medical director at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&nbsp;doesn\u2019t mean you have to hit&nbsp;the gym. You can weed for 20 minutes in the garden, walk around the neighborhood, dance in your living room,&nbsp;or go for a bike ride. Getting regular exercise&nbsp;benefits your whole body in many ways. It&nbsp;helps&nbsp;lower&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;and&nbsp;risk of stroke. It also improves&nbsp;mental health and helps maintain a healthy weight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Keep an eye on\u00a0your cholesterol<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Few of us know our cholesterol numbers. That\u2019s&nbsp;okay.&nbsp;This is just a&nbsp;friendly&nbsp;reminder to&nbsp;talk about&nbsp;cholesterol&nbsp;with your doctor during your next visit. Most adults should have their cholesterol&nbsp;checked&nbsp;every five years \u2014 or more depending on risk factors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s most important to know is that healthy cholesterol levels&nbsp;help prevent heart attack and stroke.&nbsp;Too-high&nbsp;cholesterol&nbsp;can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries&nbsp;and create blockages. That makes&nbsp;it hard for blood to get through.&nbsp;The deposits can also break off and form a clot, which could cause a heart attack or stroke.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A healthy&nbsp;total cholesterol level&nbsp;falls&nbsp;between&nbsp;125&nbsp;mg\/dL&nbsp;and&nbsp;200&nbsp;mg\/dL.&nbsp;There&nbsp;are&nbsp;several steps&nbsp;you&nbsp;can take to keep&nbsp;your cholesterol in&nbsp;that&nbsp;good range.&nbsp;A few that top the list:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limit the amount of saturated fats you eat to&nbsp;13 grams&nbsp;a day.&nbsp;Saturated fats are mainly found in animal products like butter,&nbsp;milk, cheese,&nbsp;fatty beef, and pork.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eat more high-fiber foods&nbsp;like fruits, vegetables, beans,&nbsp;and whole grains. Fiber can help lower&nbsp;your&nbsp;LDL&nbsp;cholesterol,&nbsp;the \u201cbad\u201d kind that&nbsp;can lead to heart disease. Women should aim for 21 to 25 grams per day, while&nbsp;men&nbsp;should aim for&nbsp;30 to 38 grams.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Manage your stress levels through exercise and enjoyable hobbies.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you use tobacco products,&nbsp;make a plan&nbsp;to quit.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Aim\u00a0for\u00a0a healthy weight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being overweight raises&nbsp;your risk&nbsp;for diabetes and high blood pressure, two risk factors for heart disease.&nbsp;Excess&nbsp;weight&nbsp;can also directly&nbsp;injure the heart.&nbsp;Scientists&nbsp;have&nbsp;linked&nbsp;obesity with&nbsp;high levels&nbsp;of&nbsp;troponin. This&nbsp;enzyme&nbsp;is released by&nbsp;heart muscle cells&nbsp;when they are damaged.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the good news:&nbsp;You don\u2019t have to lose a lot of weight to benefit your heart. Studies suggest losing&nbsp;just&nbsp;3% to 5%&nbsp;of your body weight is enough to help you lower&nbsp;or avoid risk factors like diabetes and high cholesterol.&nbsp;Still, setting out&nbsp;to&nbsp;lose weight&nbsp;can sometimes feel overwhelming, so&nbsp;start&nbsp;with&nbsp;small&nbsp;goals.&nbsp;Some ideas:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set a very specific, but&nbsp;doable, exercise goal.&nbsp;That could be&nbsp;walking&nbsp;30 minutes a day,&nbsp;five days a week.&nbsp;You could do it&nbsp;all at once or break it up&nbsp;throughout the day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eat more slowly. It can take up to&nbsp;20&nbsp;minutes to know you\u2019re full. Eating slowly&nbsp;gives&nbsp;your brain a chance to catch up to your stomach.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eat foods&nbsp;that are&nbsp;high in fiber and protein and&nbsp;contain some&nbsp;healthy fats. These nutrients can help you feel fuller longer so you\u2019re less likely to want seconds.&nbsp;Good fat sources include&nbsp;salmon, nuts,&nbsp;and&nbsp;avocado.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Subtract sugar<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugar is in almost everything we eat. But\u00a0too much added sugar \u2014\u00a0the kind that\u2019s not\u00a0naturally\u00a0found\u00a0in the food you\u2019re eating \u2014 can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a study in the journal\u00a0<em>BMC Medicine<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To cut back on added sugar, you can make the biggest dent by&nbsp;avoiding&nbsp;top sources in the American diet. The sugar in these four categories make up more than half of the added sugar consumed in the U.S.:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sugary beverages (especially soda).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desserts and sweet snacks like doughnuts and pastries.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coffee and tea&nbsp;(unless it\u2019s black).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Candy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead,&nbsp;drink 64 ounces of water per day, choose&nbsp;low-fat or nonfat dairy, and opt for lower-sugar dessert options.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sleep, sleep, sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSleep is so important for heart health,\u201d says JoAnne Foody, MD. Dr. Foody is the\u00a0chief\u00a0medical\u00a0officer of Esperion, a company focused on finding cholesterol-lowering therapies.\u00a0\u201cPeople who get the right amount of sleep tend to have lower blood pressure,\u00a0a\u00a0steadier heart rate,\u00a0and a healthier weight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most adults&nbsp;need&nbsp;seven to eight hours&nbsp;of sleep a night.&nbsp;If you\u2019re&nbsp;falling short, try incorporating some of these healthy sleep habits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Going to sleep and waking up around the same time every&nbsp;day.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting enough natural light during the day.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeping your bedroom cool and dark.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting enough exercise (just not too close to bedtime).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stop\u00a0smoking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cancer is not the only health risk from smoking cigarettes.&nbsp;Of the more than&nbsp;800,000&nbsp;heart disease deaths every year, about&nbsp;20%&nbsp;are due to smoking.&nbsp;Chemicals&nbsp;in&nbsp;cigarette smoke can&nbsp;damage&nbsp;the heart and blood vessels.&nbsp;Smoking also can cause plaque buildup in the arteries. That can lead to a disease called atherosclerosis and, over time, heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news&nbsp;for quitters: Your&nbsp;body starts repairing itself soon after the \ufb01nal puff.&nbsp;Quitting is a challenge, but it\u2019s easier&nbsp;when you have&nbsp;support.&nbsp;Counseling, oral medications,&nbsp;and&nbsp;nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products like the nicotine patch or gum&nbsp;can all help.&nbsp;Using counseling and medication together has been shown to give you the best odds of success.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Health Motivation at Your Fingertips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Blue KC Care Management app helps make it easy to manage your health. With the Blue KC Care Management app you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chat with your Blue KC Care Team of registered nurses, social workers, and community health workers to help coordinate care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set appointment and medication reminders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Receive daily health tasks and track your progress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explore clinically approved resources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download the Blue KC Care Management app<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scan the QR code or download the app in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/blue-kc-care-management\/id1513957007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">App Store<\/a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.bluekc.wellframe&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US&amp;pli=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play<\/a>. When prompted, use access code&nbsp;<strong>kcbluewelcome<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"158\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/care-mgmt-QR.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/care-mgmt-QR.png 158w, https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/care-mgmt-QR-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 158px) 100vw, 158px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Heart disease: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/heartdisease\/index.htm#:~:text=Heart%20disease%20is%20the%20leading,about%201%20in%204%20deaths.&amp;text=The%20term%20%E2%80%9Cheart%20disease%E2%80%9D%20refers,can%20lead%20to%20heart%20attack\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a><br>Mindfulness exercises:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/healthy-lifestyle\/consumer-health\/in-depth\/mindfulness-exercises\/art-20046356\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayo Clinic<\/a><br>Physical activity: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/physicalactivity\/about-physical-activity\/why-it-matters.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a><br>Dietary fiber: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/healthy-living\/healthy-eating\/eat-smart\/nutrition-basics\/whole-grains-refined-grains-and-dietary-fiber#.WDxYbyQrLnk\">American Heart Association<\/a><br>Weight and heart risk: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/healthy-living\/healthy-eating\/eat-smart\/nutrition-basics\/whole-grains-refined-grains-and-dietary-fiber#.WDxYbyQrLnk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/a><br>Coronary heart disease: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/coronary-heart-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute<\/a><br>Dietary carbohydrates and cardiovascular disease risk: <a href=\"https:\/\/bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12916-022-02712-7#citeas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>BMC Medicine<\/em><\/a><br>Dietary guidelines: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dietaryguidelines.gov\/resources\/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United States Department of Agriculture<\/a><br>Smoking and heart health: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/tobacco-products\/health-effects-tobacco-use\/how-smoking-affects-heart-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration<\/a><br>How to Quit Smoking: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tobacco\/quit_smoking\/how_to_quit\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefu-container\"\r\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefu-container daexthefu-layout-side-by-side daexthefu-alignment-left\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-id=\"4828\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-feedback\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-text\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"daexthefu-title\">Was this helpful?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-buttons-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-buttons\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-yes daexthefu-button daexthefu-button-type-icon\" data-value=\"1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                <svg>\r\n                    <defs>\r\n                        <style>.thumb-up-cls-1{fill:#c9c9c9;}.thumb-up-cls-2{fill:#e1e1e1;}.thumb-up-cls-3{fill:#676767;}<\/style>\r\n                    <\/defs>\r\n                    <g id=\"thumb_up\">\r\n                        <path class=\"thumb-up-cls-2 daexthefu-icon-circle\" d=\"m24,3c11.58,0,21,9.42,21,21s-9.42,21-21,21S3,35.58,3,24,12.42,3,24,3m0-1C11.85,2,2,11.85,2,24s9.85,22,22,22,22-9.85,22-22S36.15,2,24,2h0Z\" \/>\r\n                        <g>\r\n                            <rect class=\"thumb-up-cls-3 daexthefu-icon-secondary-color\" x=\"10\" y=\"20\" width=\"6\" height=\"15\" rx=\"1.5\" ry=\"1.5\" \/>\r\n                            <path class=\"thumb-up-cls-1 daexthefu-icon-primary-color\" d=\"m30.57,9.06l-.49-.1c-.81-.17-1.61.35-1.78,1.16l-5.3,11.74c-.17.81,3.16,1.61,3.97,1.78l1.96.41c.81.17,1.61-.35,1.78-1.16l2.18-10.27c.34-1.61-.7-3.21-2.31-3.56Z\" \/>\r\n                            <path class=\"thumb-up-cls-1 daexthefu-icon-primary-color\" d=\"m38.17,20h-18.67c-.83,0-1.5.67-1.5,1.5v12c0,.83.67,1.5,1.5,1.5h16.27c.71,0,1.33-.5,1.47-1.21l2.4-12c.19-.93-.53-1.8-1.47-1.8Z\" \/>\r\n                        <\/g>\r\n                    <\/g>\r\n                <\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-no daexthefu-button daexthefu-button-type-icon\" data-value=\"0\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                <svg>\r\n                    <defs>\r\n                        <style>.thumb-down-cls-1{fill:#c9c9c9;}.thumb-down-cls-2{fill:#e1e1e1;}.thumb-down-cls-3{fill:#676767;}<\/style>\r\n                    <\/defs>\r\n                    <g id=\"thumb_down\">\r\n                        <path class=\"thumb-down-cls-2 daexthefu-icon-circle\" d=\"m24,3c11.58,0,21,9.42,21,21s-9.42,21-21,21S3,35.58,3,24,12.42,3,24,3m0-1C11.85,2,2,11.85,2,24s9.85,22,22,22,22-9.85,22-22S36.15,2,24,2h0Z\" \/>\r\n                        <g>\r\n                            <rect class=\"thumb-down-cls-3 daexthefu-icon-secondary-color\" x=\"10\" y=\"13\" width=\"6\" height=\"15\" rx=\"1.5\" ry=\"1.5\" \/>\r\n                            <path class=\"thumb-down-cls-1 daexthefu-icon-primary-color\" d=\"m30.57,38.94l-.49.1c-.81.17-1.61-.35-1.78-1.16l-5.3-11.74c-.17-.81,3.16-1.61,3.97-1.78l1.96-.41c.81-.17,1.61.35,1.78,1.16l2.18,10.27c.34,1.61-.7,3.21-2.31,3.56Z\" \/>\r\n                            <path class=\"thumb-down-cls-1 daexthefu-icon-primary-color\" d=\"m38.17,28h-18.67c-.83,0-1.5-.67-1.5-1.5v-12c0-.83.67-1.5,1.5-1.5h16.27c.71,0,1.33.5,1.47,1.21l2.4,12c.19.93-.53,1.8-1.47,1.8Z\" \/>\r\n                        <\/g>\r\n                    <\/g>\r\n                <\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-top-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label id=\"daexthefu-comment-label\" class=\"daexthefu-comment-label\"><\/label>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-number\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-number\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-character-counter-text\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<textarea id=\"daexthefu-comment-textarea\" class=\"daexthefu-comment-textarea\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Type your message\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmaxlength=\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t400\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"><\/textarea>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-comment-buttons-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"daexthefu-comment-submit daexthefu-button\">Submit<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"daexthefu-comment-cancel daexthefu-button\">Cancel<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefu-successful-submission-text\">Thanks for your feedback!<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your&nbsp;hardworking heart&nbsp;pumps every minute of every day. In most cases, it\u2019s something you don\u2019t have to think much about. But&nbsp;you might want to give your heart a little more thought: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":4879,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_helpful_status":1,"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,49,15],"tags":[61,62],"post-on-community-impact":[],"class_list":["post-4828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-care-management-healthier-living","category-general-health-tips","category-healthier-living","tag-members-employer-group","tag-members-ifp-aca"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Simple Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy - The Blueprint<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/healthier-living\/simple-ways-to-keep-your-heart-healthy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Simple Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy - The Blueprint\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Your&nbsp;hardworking heart&nbsp;pumps every minute of every day. In most cases, it\u2019s something you don\u2019t have to think much about. 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