Meet Your Heart
Heart Health in Recovery
Substances & Your Circulation
Signs & Symptoms to Know
Heart-Smart Recovery Habits
100

This mighty muscle works 24/7 to keep you alive — and it never takes a day off.

Heart

100

This habit, often dropped in recovery, increases blood pressure and damages arteries.

What is smoking?

100

This legal drug found in cigarettes narrows your blood vessels.

What is nicotine?

100

This is the thump-thump you feel in your wrist or neck.

What is a pulse?

100

Staying hydrated helps your blood do this more easily.

What is circulate (or flow)?

200

These blood vessels carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.

What are arteries?

200

Too much of this "white crystal" in your food can raise your blood pressure.

What is salt (sodium)?

200

This central nervous system depressant slows heart rate and can cause arrhythmias in large amounts.

What is alcohol?

200

This number should be under 120/80 for healthy blood pressure.

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

200

Practicing this calming activity can lower your heart rate and reduce stress.

What is deep breathing (or meditation)?

300

These vessels bring blood back to the heart after it's delivered oxygen.

What are veins?

300

Your heart loves this kind of regular activity, dancing counts too!

What is exercise (or physical activity)?

300

This drug can make your heart beat so fast it feels like it’s trying to escape.

What is meth (or cocaine)?

300

Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating could all be warning signs of this.

What is a heart attack?

300

Eating more of these colorful foods can help keep your arteries happy.

What are fruits and vegetables?

400

This wall divides the left and right sides of the heart like a roommate agreement.

What is the septum?

400

This emotion can make your heart race, deep breathing helps calm it down.

What is anxiety (or stress)?

400

Opioid overdose can lead to this heart-related emergency when the body stops getting enough oxygen.

What is cardiac arrest?

400

If your legs or ankles are swollen and your heart’s struggling to keep up, you might be in this condition.

What is heart failure?

400

Getting 7–9 hours of this every night supports heart and brain health.

What is sleep?

500

This is the part of the heart where the beat begins — think of it as the DJ of your rhythm.

What is the SA node (sinoatrial node)?

500

In early recovery, you might crave sweets, but this condition (too much sugar) isn’t sweet for your heart.

What is diabetes (or high blood sugar)?

500

These drugs put stress on your heart by overstimulating the nervous system.

What are stimulants?

500

If your heart’s beating too slow, too fast, or just plain weird — it's called this.

What is arrhythmia?

500

Your heart loves support too — staying connected to others helps protect it from this emotion linked to heart disease.

What is loneliness (or depression)?