American Heart Month is not only the time to think about Valentine’s Day and heart-shaped chocolates but, more importantly, the perfect opportunity to reflect on the state of our actual hearts. In fact, the American Heart Association believes that protecting your heart should be every woman’s top priority, as heart disease is the #1 cause of death for women in the United States. To put that into perspective, it kills more of us each year than all forms of cancer combined. We’ll let that sink in a minute….
According to Dr. Sharon Mass, OBGYN and medical correspondent exclusive to us here at bare necessities, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking are the biggest risk factors for heart disease, and about half of Americans have one or more of those risk factors. Obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption and lack of exercise also come into play.
The good news? You can follow these healthy living tips to keep your heart pumping:
At the beach or pool, looking good really comes down to feeling good. Inner confidence radiates. And when you’re wearing a swimsuit, you’re putting yourself out there in a major way. (Even more so than with 
