Heart disease is nothing to joke about. About 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, equating to 1 in every 4 deaths.
The good news is that many forms of heart disease are preventable with some work on your part. But what exactly can you do and how can you do it?
We’ve put together this guide outlining the top 7 tips for living a heart healthy lifestyle.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Eat Healthy Foods
In order to maintain a healthy heart, one of the biggest things you can do is watch what you eat. Eating a diet consisting of nutritious healthy meals will greatly reduce your chance of heart disease now and in the future.
A heart-healthy diet should include lean meats, lots of fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Also, consider integrating more nuts and whole grains into your diet.
One of the biggest foods to cut down on? Salt. This can negatively affect your blood pressure if eaten too much.
Also remember to take your vitamins, including Vitamin C, D, and even SugarBear Hair. This will keep your body in sync.
2. Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure
Speaking of blood pressure, keeping it at a healthy level is another way you can live a heart healthy lifestyle.
As blood flows through your body via your arteries, it circulates at a certain pressure level. This is known in the medical world as your blood pressure.
It fluctuates depending on activity. This is normal. But what isn’t normal is if it’s consistently high.
This is a major leading factor to heart attacks. Ask your doctor about your heart pressure and if it’s in a healthy range. If not, adjusting your diet and exercise can help.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep has an effect on just about every area of your health, and heart health Is no different.
In fact, it’s been found that if you sleep less than you should, you’re at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. One study found that adults who got less than 6 hours of sleep a night were twice as likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those who slept 6 to 8 hours. In other words, getting adequate sleep can literally save your life.
Many adults stay up too late and have to get up early for work, school, or to tend their children. And this pattern can easily happen day after day.
Set a goal right now to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Create an alarm on your phone for the time that you want to go to bed and start following it today.
4. Work Out Regularly
Next, let’s talk about exercise. For many people, this is one of those things they know they should be doing more of, but they don’t.
Life gets in the way. Other activities take precedence. We feel a lack of motivation to work out.
But did you know that regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to prevent cardiovascular issues? Use this fact as motivation when you’re feeling too tired or busy to move your body.
Start with a goal to do a little each day. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go to a gym. You can do something at home or in your neighborhood.
For example, some nighttime yoga before bed is a great option. Even a walk around the block for 30 minutes can improve your heart’s health.
In addition to heart health, exercising can also give you more energy, improve your mental health, and make you stronger.
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking is a major factor when it comes to increased risk of heart disease. The facts do not lie.
Someone who smokes is twice as likely to experience a heart attack. Plain and simple.
We all are aware of the many negative consequences of smoking. And heart issues is up there on the list.
It’s also important to remember that smoking is an addiction. It can be really hard to quit. But it’s absolutely possible, and a great decision to keep your heart and body healthy.
6. Keep Up Your Dental Hygiene
Another key to keeping your heart healthy? This one may surprise you: practice good dental hygiene.
Taking care of your dental health can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Really!
The reason is that people who experience periodontal (gum) disease often suffer from the same risk factors of cardiovascular disease. This is because having bacteria in your mouth from gum disease can enter the bloodstream.
This leads to elevated levels of C-reactive proteins, which can cause blood vessel inflammation, eventually potentially causing a stroke.
To keep your teeth in tip-top shape, regularly brush and floss your teeth. Do this twice a day.
7. Take Care of Your Mental Health
Last but not least, it’s crucial that you take care of your mental health. While this is an important thing to do for all areas of your health, it even matters for your heart’s health.
Many people don’t realize that the two are linked. We often just think of improving our physical health when we think about our heart, but our mental state matters as well.
In fact, one study showed that people with depression are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Keep in mind that depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a mental illness that affects millions of people worldwide.
The good news? There are lots of things you can do to cope with depression including mindfulness exercises, taking medication, and meeting with a therapist regularly.
Heart Healthy Lifestyle Tips
Now that you’ve read all about creating a heart healthy lifestyle, what’s next? It’s time to implement your learnings.
Establish your priorities and then set some goals. This will put you on the right track.
Want to learn more? Check out our blog for additional ideas.