Heart disease remains the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. We all know that keeping our hearts healthy is important, but how do we do it? Here are the most important ways that you can help reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack, and other life-threatening conditions.
Eat Healthy
You can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease by focusing on a healthy diet. Grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat foods like beans or fish are great options for tasty meals and keeping your heart strong. Avoiding deep-fried foods, packaged snacks, margarines, and any processed products will also decrease your chances of developing the disease. Eating right also allows you to watch your weight in the process, since obesity is another leading cause for heart disease.
Manage Stress
Being stressed out is like the first block in a domino effect. Some suffer from high blood pressure, resort to smoking, get headaches or other pains, lose sleep, or even irregular heart rhythms and damage to your arteries. It’s important to keep a positive attitude and find outlets for your anger or methods to relieve your stress. Chronic stress or episodes of panic can leave your body in highs and lows that take a toll on your heart and blood pressure. Take time to figure out how to manage your situation or environment and remember to get enough sleep!
Exercise
Exercising can provide your body with numerous benefits. Not only can it help you manage that stress, improve your mood, and maintain a healthy weight, but you will make your heart stronger in the process, as well as the rest of your body. Other conditions that put a strain on your heart, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure, can be prevented with as little as 30 minutes of exercise every other day.
Cut Bad Habits
Smoking and abuse of alcohol lead to many harmful consequences, including heart disease. Drinking especially can cause high blood pressure, which is heavily linked to a failing heart. One problem smoking causes is blood clots that obstruct your blood flow through your blood vessels. If you are also taking medications, the substances can interfere with your body and lead to many major problems, including heart disease.