The heart is important but it is also fragile in its own way. Make a mistake or live an unhealthy lifestyle and your heart will pay for it. If you want to live a long and healthy life, you need to take good care of it.
Here are some tips that should help with that goal:
Regular Checkups
There are dozens of cardiology professionals in St. George and other cities. That means it should be easy enough to have your heart checked. This is important because it will tell you exactly the condition of your heart. Your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and all the other statistics will be measured. Finally, the doctor will tell you exactly what you need to do and what you should be aiming for.
Quit Smoking and Avoid Secondhand Smoke
One of the best pieces of advice that you are going to get to help your heart is to quit smoking. Besides helping your lungs, getting rid of smoking can greatly reduce the chances of you getting heart disease and stroke. Understandably, it’s very difficult to quit smoking. You can try cutting it down slowly. In addition, there is no such thing as being too late to quit. A year after quitting, you can reduce your chances of a heart attack by 50 percent.
You also need to reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke. Inhaling smoke is almost as dangerous as smoking. Secondhand smoke increases your chances of heart disease by 20 to 30 percent. This is mainly because cigarette smoke has chemicals that promote the buildup of plaque in your arteries. Be strict about secondhand smoke to ensure better health.
Lower Cholesterol
The next step is to lower the amount of cholesterol in your diet. Cholesterol mostly comes from eating high amounts of trans fats and carbs. Your goal is to modify your diet to lower the number of dangerous foods that you eat. These include red meat, bread, pasta, and more. Just check the ingredients and the nutritional information found on the label. You will also need to want to reduce your sodium intake to lower your blood pressure.
To improve your diet, you should eat more fruits and vegetables. Additionally, high fiber foods can be a big help. Chicken and fish are great replacements for red meat and pork.
Be More Active
Don’t just sit there and be a couch potato. Get up and get out. Regular exercise boosts your body’s circulatory system. The best thing to do is to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week. It doesn’t need to be strenuous. Just take a walk or a run; you should be fine with that.
Reduce Stress Levels
It’s not just the physical aspect that you have to take care of. You must look into your mental state, too. Increased stress can put pressure on your body. Try to have a regular time for relaxation to avoid this. Good work-life balance will keep you healthy for a long time.
With proper care, your heart should be able to last a long time. Just remember these pieces of advice so that your heart is properly cared for. Follow them religiously and you can be sure to stay healthy.
