Admit it, the modern lifestyle has taken its toll on your heart. This is one muscle you want to keep young and healthy. However, there are numerous factors that seem to make your heart more vulnerable to different diseases. Before you even get to that stage, it’s about time you give your heart some TLC and do what it takes to keep it younger.
Eat Healthy
You can only have a healthy heart if you are mindful of what you put on your plate. Stay away from processed foods and go with healthier options. A diet that is adequate in fruits and vegetables is what you need to keep your heart young.
Cut down on refined sugars as this can lead to high blood pressure. If you are craving for sweets, you can go with natural sweeteners like fruits and honey. You also need to reduce your intake of sodium as it increases your risks of high blood pressure. Your biggest enemy is not your table salt, but processed foods and fast foods.
Salmon and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that protect your heart and lower cholesterol levels. Eat more of them when you can. It also helps to read food labels and avoid those that have saturated fats, trans fats, and partially hydrogenated oils.
Keep a Healthy Weight
Obesity increases anyone’s chances of having diabetes and high blood pressure. It also increases a person’s risk of having heart diseases. Strive to keep your weight within normal levels. If you don’t check your weight regularly, it’s time you do.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising for 30 minutes improves your heart rate and overall heart health. You can also try yoga or meditation to ease stress. In case you are too busy to exercise regularly, try to be active. Instead of taking the lift, go for the stairs. You can also walk or cycle to work instead of taking the bus. Even running errands or cleaning the house keeps your heart young and healthy.
Quit Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking is detrimental to their health, but most people just can’t kick the habit. Smoking is not good for your heart, so you should make an effort to cut on the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. Do it slowly and you’ll be out of the addiction in no time.
Stay Away from Stress
This one’s easier said than done. Stress is a normal part of life, but it can also be deadly. When you’re facing too much stress, you may end up going back to bad habits. Some people lose their appetite, while others begin to overeat. There are also people who rely on alcohol to relieve their stress. All these have negative effects on your heart. The best thing to do is to manage your stress levels. Talk to friends, spend time with loved ones, and learn to take a break from whatever is giving you so much stress.
Get Enough Sleep
Inadequate sleep leads to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also increases your stress levels and your risk of having heart problems. Get at least 6 hours of sleep each night to let your body recover and to prepare for the following day.
Be happy
If you want to keep your heart younger, you’ll have to stay happy. Stay close to positive people and far from negative people who only add to your stress levels. Laugh as much as you can and speak up when you have something to say. Be kind and learn to forgive. Lastly, love and stay in love.
Bottom line is you have to take care of your heart if you want to live a long life. Plan ECG check ups every now and then to ensure its health. Through these simple ways, you can keep your heart young and your spirit rejuvenated.
When it comes to cardiac arrest, you cannot afford to be unprepared. Having a defibrillator in the vicinity increases your chances of surviving a heart attack by up to 70%. Find a useful infographic below for how to operate a defibrillator so you can be prepared should the worst ever happen.
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