Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide? While sometimes nothing can be done to prevent it, there are many cases where the disease can be prevented by making simple lifestyle changes and managing your risk factors. Let’s take a look at 4 ways to improve your heart health:
Become More Active
Many people don’t know that your heart is classified as a muscle. Like the rest of the muscles in your body, you can strengthen it by exercising. Your heart is a crucial part of your circulation system, and it is tasked with pumping blood throughout your body. If you want to improve the function of the heart, exercise is crucial. The first step is to talk to your doctor to help you find a target heart rate, then find an activity that you enjoy doing. Many people avoid exercising because they don’t like going to the gym. However, there are plenty of fun ways to work out including playing sports, walking around the neighborhood, and swimming.
Change Your Diet
Losing weight is a big part of maintaining heart health. As you probably know, it’s important to eat a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables. There is also some food that are especially good for your heart, including salmon and guacamole. Both of these foods are full of healthy fats that are great for your heart. The good news is that there is also a sweet treat that is heart friendly as well, and that’s chocolate. Cocoa has a ton of antioxidants that have been shown to improve blood clotting and lower bad cholesterol. Therefore, you can reward yourself for eating healthy by enjoying some sweet chocolate, in moderation of course.
Stay Positive
Each new year that rolls around seems to get busier and busier. The more things we have to do each day, the more stressed out we become. However, one of the biggest keys to keeping your heart healthy is to remain calm in stressful situations. There are more than 1,400 biochemical responses to stress, including a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. If you don’t find a way to manage your stress, it can create even more stress and you will be caught in a terrible cycle. If you are looking for ways to relieve stress, try taking part in relaxing activities, including reading your favorite book or trying meditation and yoga.
Abandon Unhealthy Habits
There are many habits that can cause strain on your heart. Two of those include smoking and overeating. We understand that quitting smoking is difficult, but it is one of the most common things that have been linked to heart disease. There are many other negative effects it can have on your body as well, such as lung cancer and diabetes. Overeating is also a bad habit that needs to be broken, as it can lead to heart attacks. When you eat too much food at once, blood is shifted away from your heart to aid your digestive system, which can cause heart issues.
Would you like to learn more about ways to improve your heart health? Visit one of our Indiana pharmacies today and our knowledgeable and friendly staff will get you back on track to a healthy lifestyle.
