Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people in the United States — according to the CDC, someone dies from it every 37 seconds. That’s a lot of people with unhealthy hearts! The question is, how can you improve your lifestyle so that it benefits your heart health?
Luckily, it’s not difficult to live in a heart-healthy way. Follow these tips:
Eat a Great Diet
Eating a great diet is a major part of living in a heart-healthy way. Lower the amount of salt you eat and cut back on sweetened beverages, sugary foods, and red meat. Consume less total fat, saturated and trans fats, and cholesterol, and eat more whole grains, poultry, fish, and vegetables and fruits.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising is the number-one way to make your heart stronger. Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day is highly recommended. Your blood pressure will go down, your weight won’t increase, and you’ll have more energy. And becoming more physically fit means you’ll have a lower resting heart rate, which is great for staving off heart disease.
Don’t Smoke
Did you know that smoking cigarettes is a major contributor to heart disease? The National Institute of Health lists disruption of normal heart rhythms, increased blood pressure and heart rate, thickening of the blood, and damage to blood vessel walls as just a few of the heart-related detriments of smoking. It’s simply one of the worst things you can do for your heart!
Moderate Your Alcohol Consumption
Drinking too much alcohol is another risk factor for heart problems. Overdoing it can raise your blood pressure and increase your chance of a stroke or heart attack. Although there is some evidence that moderate drinking — one to two drinks per day at most — can actually have some benefits, such as lowered blood pressure. Moderate your consumption to benefit your heart.
Know Your Health History
At the end of the day, one risk factor that you can’t really control is genetics. That’s why it’s important to know your family’s health history and find out if heart disease runs in your family. Then, you know to take extra precautions and take your heart health seriously for a lifetime.
Don’t Risk What’s Most Important
Put these steps into practice today to start improving your heart health — there’s just no time to waste. And visit Medical Professionals online for more great tips on improving you and your family’s health and wellness. That’s why we’re here!
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