Regularly taking care of your heart is vital for maintaining good overall health. With the increasing prevalence of heart diseases, it has become more important than ever to adopt healthy habits that promote a strong and healthy heart. In this blog, we will explore ten effective ways to keep your heart healthy.
By implementing these simple yet impactful lifestyle changes, you can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and ensure your heart stays in optimal condition. So, let’s dive in and discover the key strategies to prioritize your heart health.
What is Heart Disease?
When heart disease is discussed, it is normally in reference to coronary heart disease (CHD) also known as coronary artery disease (CAD).
This is the most common type of heart disease in people.
Someone who has coronary heart disease has it because the coronary arteries (tubes) which are tasked with taking blood to the heart, have become narrow or blocked.
The cause of this problem is cholesterol and fatty tissue build-up inside the arteries, this is also referred to as plaque.
There are numerous reasons why cardiovascular disease can occur in someone.
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Smoking cigarettes
- High blood sugar levels (diabetes)
A blocked artery will cause chest pain which can lead to a heart attack.
Are You at Risk of Heart Disease?
Heart disease can happen to anyone, but you have an increased risk if you also have:
- High cholesterol and blood pressure (drinking too much alcohol can contribute to this)
- Diabetes
- You smoke cigarettes
- You are not a healthy weight and are overweight or obese
- Do not get enough physical activity
- You do not have a healthy diet
Not only are these risk factors that you have to take into account but your genetics, age, and family history can also play a part in you developing heart disease.
- Being a woman over 55 years old
- Being a man over 45 years old
- Your father or brother had heart disease before age 55, and 65 for mothers and sisters
Luckily, even if you are at risk of heart disease, there are still ways you can reduce this potential outcome, but you need to stick to it and make sure that you are doing everything possible to help your body be healthy.
If you have a major risk factor such as high blood pressure, then you will need to be monitored by a doctor to ensure that you are doing everything possible to keep your heart healthy and safe.
This means having your blood pressure checked regularly and seeing how you can manage stress in the best way possible through the advice of your doctor.
10 Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy
Now that we have gone over how you may be at risk of heart disease, it is time to talk about some solutions to help your heart keep ticking over for the benefit of you and your family
Manage Stress Effectively
High-stress levels will cause your blood pressure to go up as well as your breathing rate and heart rate.
Being chronically stressed with other factors can actually cause you to have a heart attack, so you will need to find ways you can manage stress in a manner that calms you down properly and stops you from reacting too severely.
Start with doing meditation, deep breathing, keeping a journal, exercising, and going out for some breathing space. This helps you calm your senses and articulate your thoughts.
Also, you could consult a cannabis doctor to implement the use of alternative medication for handling stress levels and sleeping better. Upon his or her suggestion, you could click here to explore different products to try out in an online dispensary, or in one that is based near you.
By figuring out how to manage stress levels, you can understand how to support your body and stop your stress levels from rising to potentially dangerous heights.
Be Mindful of Your Weight
How much you weigh can also have an impact on your heart, and as you well know, being overweight or obese will put a strain on your heart as well as your other organs, so not only are you helping your heart but you are helping your entire body.
Exercise on a Regular Basis
You don’t need to do strenuous physical activity daily, just simply going for a walk can prove to be highly beneficial for you and your heart.
Walking, biking, swimming, running, dancing, etc., any form of cardio that will get your heart rate up and raise your fitness levels.
Don’t Smoke Cigarette
Cigarette brings with it a lot of horrible effects that have no redeemable qualities. Quitting cigarettes will help not only with your heart but it will also improve your overall health and quality of life.
However, as a regular smoker, you might feel the need to take a puff. In that case, you can find alternatives like a Crystal Vape or a Dragbar to ease the urge. Vaping can be a less harmful option because it doesn’t involve the combustion of tobacco, which produces many harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
Keep an Eye on Your Cholesterol Levels
Your arteries will get clogged with high levels of cholesterol in your system, so be aware of what you can do to keep it at a safe level and research different foods that can help contribute to this as well as speak with your doctor about potential medication.
Know What Your Current Blood Pressure Is
Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year to keep on top of your levels and see if you can track what is going on so you are aware of what is going on inside your body.
There is medication that can be prescribed to people who have high blood pressure, but it is not a miracle cure and will need effort from you to have it work.
You will have to change your eating habits as well as your consumption of alcohol and fitness levels to have it work effectively for you.
Don’t Overeat Bad Foods
Be aware of what foods you are eating and ensure that they are nutritious and the best for you.
That is not saying that you have to cut out ‘junk’ food entirely, unless you are seriously overweight, but it does mean that you have to be incredibly mindful of what you put in your body so that you are not tempting fate with your heart and health.
Get Your Recommended Amount of Sleep Each Night
Sleep is incredibly important in keeping our bodies functioning properly, so if you do not have a good night’s sleep then you will have to make changes to your schedule to ensure that you are able to.
Seven to nine hours of sleep is recommended, and if you are not hitting that right now then you will be feeling the effects, you just haven’t noticed it too much at the moment.
Always Get Your Recommended Shots for Flu Season
Flu has been linked to increased heart attacks and strokes.
Make sure that you get your shot when it is available to you and always get updated shots for any other illnesses that are flying around at different seasons.
Check-in With a Qualified Doctor Regularly
To stay healthy, you will want to see your primary care physician on a timely basis. They can conduct tests and see if you are at risk of any diseases and what can be done to lower your risk. They can prescribe medication and show you ways that you can change your lifestyle to keep you healthy.
In case your interests don’t incline toward taking chemically formulated medicines, you can take the route of alternative medicine like naturopathy, by getting in touch with an expert in the field like Dr. Diana Joy Ostroff. For the uninitiated, naturopathy is a system of medical care that looks to heal the body with natural remedies such as herbs, vitamins, and other natural substances. It is a safe and effective way to treat illnesses and promote overall well-being.
Put simply, checking in with your doctor regularly is crucial to monitor heart health and catch potential issues like aortic aneurysms early. However, in the unfortunate event of medical misdiagnosis, which can result from errors in interpreting symptoms, insufficient diagnostic testing, or lack of awareness about risk factors, serious consequences may arise. This can delay appropriate treatment, leading to an increased risk of aneurysm rupture or other complications.
Medical negligence leading to bodily harm can be subject to scrutiny, and seeking compensation for such harm is possible with the assistance of medical lawyers at Gadsby wicks. To prevent this from happening, accurate diagnosis by a qualified healthcare professional is vital to ensure proper treatment and improve patient outcomes. Hence, it is prudent that you read the reviews of a healthcare professional before you schedule an appointment with them. This way, you would be in the know of their reputation and their skills.
Conclusion
After reading through these 10 ways to keep your heart healthy, you should be a lot more aware of what the risks are and how important it is for you to make a change in your life so you do not open yourself up for other diseases.