What is your heart IQ?

Every organ in our body plays a unique role and is important but “one may be more equal than the others.” This has nothing to do with the ever fresh Animal Farm.

Dear friend this is a reminder that “Your heart powers your whole body so fuel your heart and power your life.” As we approach World Heart Day on September 29th it is worth reminding ourselves that many heart diseases and their complications can be prevented by making small changes to our lifestyles.

A small change such as exercising frequently, avoiding smoking, eating a heathy meal, controlling our weight and keeping all our numbers under control can do wonders. Once we hold onto this for a long time it makes such a difference in our lives that we may not even recognise our own self.

As you may have read before, “one healthy choice is always followed by another” so just do it now.

To protect our hearts knowledge is vital. Let us continue our quest for hear health with a Heart IQ test.

1. In the list below, the commonest complication from smoking is?

a. Lung cancer b. pneumonia c. heart disease

2. How long (the minimum) should one exercise at moderate intensity each week?

a. 75mins b. 30mins c.150mins

3. How long (the minimum) should one exercise vigorously each week?

a. 150mins b. 300mins c. 75mins

4. All the following lead to a healthy heart except

a. Not smoking b. exercising c. obesity

5. Reducing which of the following in our meals will protect our heart?

a. Fruits b. vegetables c. salt

Congratulations!!

Note that most of us will do perfectly fine with just moderate intensity exercise. Vigorous or high intensity exercise has its own challenges. (All the right answers are option c.)

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials/St Andrews Clinic

(www.healthclubsgh.com)

Dr Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition.

Thought for the week – “Your heart powers your whole body so fuel your heart and power your life.”

Reference:

1. World Heart Federation Website

2. The Ten Commandments For A Healthy & Enjoyable Life: Dr Kojo Essel