A healthy lifestyle coupled with regular exercise and a proper diet can help keep diseases at bay. This combination is essential in keeping your heart healthy.
But aside from these, there are many other things you can do to make your heart work efficiently and keep you safe from various health issues. Incorporating these simple habits into your life can prevent trips to a cardiology center Payson, Utah and keep your heart healthy for many years.
1. Choose Healthy Fats
Your body needs healthy fats to function, so they must still be included in your diet. One kind of fat that you must avoid, however, is the Trans fat. It is known to increase the risk of heart diseases and stroke. Trans fat can cause clogging in the arteries, raise levels of bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol levels.
Eliminating Trans fat from your daily diet will improve blood flow and lessen the risk of heart diseases and stroke. Some examples of food with high Trans fat content are snack foods, packaged baked goodies and fried foods.
2. Practice Good Dental Hygiene
Not many people are aware of the connection between good oral hygiene and a healthy heart. Good dental health is an indication of overall good health, including the heart.
People with periodontal diseases have higher risk factors for heart diseases. Studies prove that the bacteria in the mouth, which cause gum diseases, can move into the bloodstream and lead to an inflammation of the blood vessels. This, in turn, can increase the risk of heart diseases.
3. Get Enough Sleep
People who sleep less than six hours per night have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases no matter what their age or health habits are. The risk of having a stroke and heart attack is also twice as much compared with people who sleep for six to eight hours every night.
Lack of sleep is believed to affect biological processes, including cell repair and blood pressure regulation. So, make it a priority to always get enough rest and sleep.
4. Avoid Sitting Down for Too Long
Extended periods of sitting down, even if you do exercise, are bad for the health. People with a sedentary lifestyle are the most at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, as well as death caused by cardiovascular events.
People who also travel for long periods face the risk of having a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis. This is why it is important to keep moving throughout the day and to stand up and away from your desks once in a while during work.
5. Avoid Secondhand Smoke
People who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work have as much as 30 % higher risk of developing heart diseases. Exposure to tobacco smoke contributes to premature deaths due to heart disease as well as lung cancer deaths.
Non-smokers with high blood pressure or high cholesterol can have greater risks of developing heart diseases when exposed to secondhand smoke. You do not want to be in a smoking environment and remember to keep kids away from secondhand smoke.
These simple practices can do a great favor for your heart and overall health. You do not need complex health practices to keep your body healthy. Small changes in your daily habits can already help you feel better and achieve a lifestyle that is pro-heart health.
