Nursing Starts With Heart—So Take Care of Yours! | Health Care Staffing of Tennessee, Inc.

February is American Heart Month. You may spend a lot of your time helping make sure your patients’ heart health is in good shape, but it’s just as important to care for your own heart. That’s why our team at Health Care Staffing of Tennessee, Inc. wants to offer some suggestions for protecting your heart.

Your Heart Matters

As nurses, it’s easy to get into the habit of caring for others and putting ourselves in last place on our priority list. But it’s time to start prioritizing yourself, too. Let’s take a look at some ways you can live a heart-healthy lifestyle.

First, make sure to make time for an annual physical each year. If you’re feeling good, you may not think you need a wellness checkup. But since the best medicine is often prevention, it’s important to regularly check up on your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and other important numbers.

Second, make sure you’re getting plenty of physical activity—at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week to help improve your heart health. Does that 150 minutes seem unattainable? Consider this: That’s just over 20 minutes each day. That’s totally doable, right?

Finally, pay attention to what you’re putting in your body on a daily basis. Are you drinking more sodas than water? It’s important to do what you can to sneak more water into your day. Are you visiting fast food restaurants on the way home from work? Instead, start preparing meals at home for the week so that you won’t be tempted to stop on the way home. By just making some simple changes in your daily habits, you can make a big difference in your overall heart health.

Looking for a new job opportunity that’ll be easier on your health and wellness? Contact Health Care Staffing of Tennessee, Inc. today to learn about our current openings!