Heart diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these conditions kill up to 17.9 million people every year! Fortunately, avoiding or managing many risk factors for heart disease is possible with lifestyle changes, medications, and medical care. In this post, you will learn some viable ways to keep your heart healthy for a happy life. 

1. Switch to Heart-Healthy Foods

If you strive to achieve a healthy heart, it’s crucial to eat right to protect your heart. A diet good for your heart is low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugars. It’s also high in fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats.

Such a diet helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check. Additionally, it controls conditions like diabetes and obesity and reduces inflammation, which can cause heart trouble. Examples include green veggies, berries, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, oatmeal, olive oil, and even dark chocolate!

2. Stay Active

Staying active is yet another thing that contributes significantly to heart health. The American Heart Association recommends exercising regularly – about 150 minutes at a moderate level or 75 minutes of intense aerobic activity each week. These exercises will strengthen your heart, help your blood flow, lower your blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol.

Exercise can also help you avoid or control obesity, diabetes, and stress. Some suitable exercise activities include walking, jogging, bike riding, swimming, dancing, or ae­robics. Strength training is also good. You can lift weights, do push-ups, or use resistance­ bands to build your muscles and bones, which is also good for your heart.

3. Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are two of the worst habits for your heart. They can damage blood vessels, increase blood pressure, raise cholesterol, and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart. It can lower your risk of heart disease by 50% within one year, as noted by WHO

If you drink alcohol, limit your intake to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, as recommended by the American Heart Association. Drinking more than that can increase your blood pressure, triglycerides, and calories and interfere with your medications. Consider quitting or moderating these behaviors!

4. See­k an Expert Heart Doctor

Do you have a background in heart conditions? Or are you worried about some signs or risk factors? It’s an excellent idea to see a cardiologist like Ian Weisberg, a heart and blood vessel expert. They can evaluate your heart’s well-being, conduct check-ups, prescribe drugs and treatments, and give tips about heart issues. They can help avoid or deal with any heart concerns.

Conclusion

Heart health is vital for your well-being and longevity; the above are viable ways to protect and improve it. Put these into practice, and your heart will remain healthy to pump for as long as you live. Remember, your heart is your most precious asset, so take good care of it.

Jane