January was Get Organized Month, and hopefully you spent some time getting rid of clutter and bringing order to your home or office. February is designated as American Heart Month, so this month you should be working on removing the clutter from your heart. We think of men, when we hear heart disease, but it is the number one cause of death among women. The great news is that heart disease can be prevented.

Some of the things the American Heart Association suggests you can do to keep your heart clutter free are:

•Get regular check ups.
•Get moving: Become physically active at least 30 minutes a
   day.
•Know your numbers: Cholesterol (LDL and HDL), Blood
   Pressure, and Triglycerides.
•Limit your salt intake to 2300 mg of sodium a day.
•Eat a heart healthy diet, including more whole grains, fish,
   fresh fruits and vegetables.
•Limit food high in saturated fats and dietary cholesterol.
•If you smoke, stop smoking now.
•If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation.

Managing the stress in your life is another big thing you can do for your heart. Believe me, I have personal experience on this one.  I may not have had the other risk factors, when I had to have a stent put in to prop open  one of my arteries that was 98% blocked, but I did, however, have stress.  Thankfully, due to cardiac clearance for some minor back surgery the blocked artery was found before damage was done.   No one, though, is immune to stress, so you must be aware of how you deal with it and learn to control your reaction to it.  When you declutter, let go of the physical and don't forget to let go of the emotional clutter, too.  I believe that by having order in your surroundings you can reduce some of the stress in your life.

When you get rid of the clutter, physical and mental clutter, you can begin to really focus on the people and things that are important to you.

The American Heart Association started the “Go Red For Women” campaign to bring awareness to heart disease in women and to help women take action against heart disease. You can support this effort by wearing your heart on your sleeve and wearing Red for Women not just in February but all year long! The American Heart Association suggests that you can Go Red anyway you want...eat red apples, cherries, or tomatoes...leave red kisses on someone’s cheek, or laugh so hard your face turns red. Go to www.goredforwomen.org to register for the “Go Red For Women Now” campaign and you’ll receive a free Red Dress Pin. Do it all for your heart.