Believe it or not, your dentist, friends and earplugs can all help prevent heart disease — here’s how.
By now you’ve likely heard the usual advice for safeguarding your heart health: Get regular cardio exercise, eat a diet rich in fruits, veggies and healthy fats, and steer clear of cigarettes. But if you’re already on track with those healthy habits, or you’re just looking for more ways to protect your heart, adding any one of these eight other habits to your daily life can give your heart health a big boost.
While you snooze, your blood pressure naturally goes down. So, if you skimp on sleep, that may mean more time that your blood pressure stays higher. And that puts more strain on your heart. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep a night.
Researchers say there's a link between loud noises from things like lawn mowers, road traffic, construction and live shows to heart disease. Heavy traffic usually clocks in about 80 to 90 decibels. If you can’t avoid loud noises, wear hearing protection such as foam earplugs.
Call our 24/7 Nurse Line* at
1-855-493-7019 (TTY: 711) to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it’s an emergency, dial 911.
*While only your doctor can diagnose, prescribe or give medical advice, the 24-Hour Nurse Line can provide information on a variety of health topics.
You might think your mouth and heart don’t have much to do with each other. But people with gum disease are at a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.* To help prevent or reverse gum disease, be sure to brush and floss your teeth daily.
Get anytime access to your plan web page
You can visit your plan web page anytime. Just use your smartphone or tablet camera to scan the QR code on your member ID card or type in the URL from your card. You’ll go directly to your plan web page, where you can see your plan information and benefits, check your coverage, watch a helpful video and more.
Feeling lonely or socially isolated can lead to more stress and anxiety, which also strains the heart. Try to connect with a friend or close family member at least once a week. If you can’t see them in person, call, text or video chat instead — it all counts and helps ease loneliness.
Having the flu or pneumonia may raise your heart risks. To protect yourself, make sure you get an annual flu shot. And stay up to date on your pneumococcal vaccine to help prevent pneumonia.
Find important plan documents and resources in one place
Your plan web page is a one-stop shop shop for key plan information, where you can:
- Watch and overview video of your plan
- Find helpful resources
- Review plan documents
- Search for network providers and pharmacies
Enter the URL printed on your member ID card.
If you eat all your calories between 7 AM and 7 PM, for example, you’ll see heart-healthy benefits. This eating pattern is often called intermittent fasting. It's when you alternate fasting periods with a regular eating schedule. It can help people lose weight and improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.*
Yes, brisk walking and other cardiovascular exercises are good for your heart. One to two hours of exercise a day can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels.* You'll get even better results if you throw in some strength-training moves. Try some lunges, squats and wall push-ups a couple days a week.
Mindfulness practices such as meditation and deep breathing exercises may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Mindfulness can lower levels of stress hormones that can raise blood pressure and inflammation in the body.
Have a health question that can’t wait for your next checkup?
Call the 24/7 Nurse Line at 1-800-556-1555 (TTY: 711) to speak with a registered nurse.
Adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet can improve heart health.* A simple and delicious warm grain salad with tomatoes and greens helps you get in those heart-healthy nutrients. And it can be on the table in 15 minutes or less.
You can make this hearty salad with quick-cooking quinoa, a high-protein grain or rice. Combine it with tender greens, such as baby kale or baby spinach. Add fresh tomatoes for a pop of flavor. Don’t have Italian seasoning blend? Replace it with your favorite seasoning, such as lemon and pepper or Cajun.
Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa or rice
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
4 cups tender greens (such as baby kale or baby spinach)
1 tbsp. vegetable oil or olive oil
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Italian seasoning blend
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
Instructions:
Cook quinoa or rice as directed on the package. In a large mixing bowl, combine your grain and all remaining ingredients. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix everything together. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition info per serving:
234 calories; 8 g protein; 35 g carbs; 5 g fiber; 6 g fat (1 g saturated); 3 g sugar; 137 mg sodium
*FOR GUM DISEASE: American Heart Association. Gum disease may be linked to plaque buildup in arteries, higher risk of major CVD events.December 16, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026.
*FOR INTERMITTENT FASTING: Cleveland Clinic. What Intermittent Fasting Can Do for Your Heart. February 27, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026.
*FOR EXERCISE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Heart Disease. January 28, 2026. Accessed April 10, 2026.
*FOR DIET: American Heart Association. 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. March 31, 2026. Accessed April 10, 2026.
*If you’re a Florida plan member, you can reach your care team at 1-844-498-1860 (TTY: 711), 7 days a week, 8 AM to 11 PM ET.
See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area.
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