To improve your cardiovascular health, one of the most important things you can do is to start taking care of your heart right now. This guide will take you through the basic steps of how to keep your heart healthy, even if you’re already at risk for cardiovascular disease or are already being treated for it. If you want to learn more about keeping your heart healthy, check out the full guide below!
Understanding Cardiovascular Health Risks
Cardiovascular disease is one of, if not, top killers in AU. But what does that mean and how can you improve your heart health? By starting with these easy tips, you can increase your overall fitness to keep your heart healthy. You will notice a change in energy levels, weight and performance within only four weeks! Get started today. Cardiovascular disease is one of, if not, top killers in America. But what does that mean and how can you improve your heart health?
Cardiovascular disease occurs when there is excessive plaque build-up in your arteries. Fat, cholesterol and other substances are deposited on top of your artery walls, clogging them and reducing blood flow to vital organs. If left untreated, it can cause myocardial infarction or a heart attack. It can also result in stroke or peripheral vascular disease which often affects legs as well as arms. Having high blood pressure also contributes to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack over time.
The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent and maintain good heart health. It starts with making small changes in your life, like eating better and exercising regularly. Adding these easy tips to your lifestyle will help you strengthen your heart muscle. You will notice a change in energy levels, weight and performance within only four weeks.
Why Is It Important to Keep Your Heart-Healthy?
When your heart is working well, you’re able to go about your day without thinking twice about it. But if it isn’t healthy and functioning properly, you could be doing damage to not only yourself but your family as well. Additionally, it is important because heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Around 17 million people die each year from heart disease. Women are also more likely than men to develop high blood pressure-related problems like stroke or other heart-related issues because they often get less exercise than men do. Everyone must keep their hearts healthy through exercising regularly and eating right!
When your heart is healthy, you don’t have to worry about heart disease. However, there are steps that you can take to ensure that your heart stays in good shape. One thing you should know is that if you already have high blood pressure or other heart-related issues like angina or atrial fibrillation, it doesn’t mean that they won’t get better on their own.
You should always talk with your doctor before making any changes to your current lifestyle or any medications that you may be taking! It is also important to keep an eye on yourself because sometimes people might not realize how much damage their bodies are taking until it is too late. In the next section, we will go over some tips to keep your heart healthy. If you stick to these guidelines and pay attention to what goes into your body, you will greatly reduce your chances of developing serious cardiac problems down the road.
Tips from A Cardiologist for Perfect Cardiovascular Health
Most people think heart disease means only one thing: a heart attack. But that’s far from true—the cardiovascular disease can manifest itself in myriad ways, and not all of them will bring on sudden death. If you want to ensure your heart remains healthy throughout your life, it’s important to check your arteries regularly. Here are tips on how to start improving your heart health today
Research shows that taking small steps towards improving your heart health can go a long way in lowering your risk of heart attack and stroke. Your daily habits and lifestyle choices are some of the most important factors when it comes to heart health. Here are simple ways you can improve your cardiovascular system
1. Exercise
Incorporating regular physical activity into your weekly routine will improve both your heart’s ability to pump blood as well as lower your blood pressure. You don’t need to take on an intense, exercise regimen; even taking small steps such as parking further away at work or walking instead of driving short distances are great ways to fit in more exercise throughout your day.
2. Quit Smoking and Cut Back on Alcohol
Smoking causes your heart to work harder than it needs to, so quitting is an important step towards strengthening your heart. Additionally, heavy alcohol consumption can cause thickening of your blood, which increases your risk of stroke. By cutting back on alcohol and smoking, you’ll both lower your risk of stroke and improve circulation to your heart.
3. Eat Healthily
Eating healthy doesn’t just mean avoiding foods that are bad for you, but also incorporating foods that are good for you into your diet. Fruit and vegetables have been proven time and again to strengthen not only your overall health but also the blood vessels around your heart. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon can help lower cholesterol levels as well as reduce inflammation in your body.
4. Limit Salt Intake
While it’s true that eating too much salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure, research shows limiting salt intake does affect your risk of death from heart disease. The recommendation is to limit your daily sodium consumption to less than 2,300 milligrams or one teaspoon per day. Instead of using regular table salt, switch over to sea salt or use herbs and spices to season foods instead; you’ll still get great flavour without all of the sodium.
5. Get Your Blood Pressure Checked Regularly
Getting your blood pressure checked regularly will allow you to catch any signs of hypertension early on. High blood pressure puts an undue amount of stress on your heart, so it’s important to get it checked regularly, especially if you have a family history of high blood pressure or other risk factors such as being overweight or smoking.
6. Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels
Having high cholesterol puts extra strain on your heart muscles, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke significantly. One simple way to maintain healthy cholesterol levels is to consume more soluble fibre by eating more fruits and vegetables; insoluble fibre can be found in foods like whole grains as well as nuts and seeds.
7. Eat Regularly
Eating regularly throughout the day helps reduce stress on your body by stabilizing blood sugar levels. If you find yourself feeling shaky, irritable or lightheaded after skipping meals, it may be time to make sure you’re getting enough food; eating five or six small meals each day will help keep blood glucose levels stable and decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes as well.
8. Talk to Your Doctor
Even if you’re in great shape, it’s important to talk to your doctor about any changes you’ve noticed since your last check-up. The human body is constantly changing and growing; blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are just some of many numbers that can change over time. Your doctor may prescribe medicine or make lifestyle recommendations based on any new trends in your data. Get in touch with your doctor today; it could save your life!
If you don’t have regular doctor visits, now is a great time to schedule one. In addition to your data, your doctor can also help you figure out what kinds of exercise are best for you and whether any changes in diet are necessary.
Conclusion
The heart is just as important to human life as any other organ in our body, and keeping it healthy is essential to living a long and happy life. Our lives today are more stressful than ever before; most of us spend our days sitting at desks or stuck in traffic on highways. The best way to combat these effects on your heart is by following the tips above adjusting them as needed to fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re an office worker, stay-at-home parent or athlete, making some slight changes can go a long way toward improving your overall heart health.
FAQs
1. How much exercise should I get each week?
The minimum is 30 minutes, but more than that is ideal; check with your doctor about starting an exercise routine if you have not exercised recently. Be consistent!
2. How often should I be taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements?
Some people benefit from daily supplementation, while others take it just a few times per week; there is no clear rule here, so try different dosages and see what works best for you.
3. Are there any foods I should eat less of?
Yes. Saturated fats, trans fats, salt and sugar all contribute to bad cholesterol and increase your risk of developing heart disease.
4. When should I see a doctor about my diet?
If you’ve made significant changes to your diet but aren’t seeing improvement in key indicators, for example, blood pressure or HDL/LDL ratios, schedule an appointment with your physician.
5. Any special advice for vegetarians or vegans?
In general, these diets may help lower your risk of many chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease but they may also put you at a higher risk of nutritional deficiencies like B12 deficiency.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916
https://www.thedailymeal.com/healthy-eating/cardiologists-best-habits-heart
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/staying-healthy-when-you-have-a-heart-condition
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=86837