Heart Disease is on the rise. Look around you and you will see that more and more people are suffering from heart ailments as compared to just a few years ago. Why is that heart attacks are victimizing a younger age group today? Well, there may be many answers to this question, but one of the key concerns is definitely the lifestyle, that the youth of today are leading.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, high stress jobs, erratic and unhealthy eating habits and sometimes even genes can play a role in taking a toll on one’s heart. So, is there something that one can do besides just avoiding the obvious evils that plague one’s heart?
A few basic changes to your lifestyle can indeed make a great difference to your heart. A few tips that can play a preventative role, when dealing with heart disease are detailed below:
Run for Your Heart
Experts say that just 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity in a week can help keep your heart healthy. You should ideally pick an activity that you enjoy and one that fits into your lifestyle. You could keep your car in the garage and may be even cycle to work, take the stairs to your apartment on the eighth floor and walk to the grocery store instead of burning fuel and paying heavy parking charges.
Smoking Kills
You know it, but you just cannot stop. You wake up breathless in the middle of the night and promise yourself that quitting the disgusting habit is next on your list. However, the sun rises and you forget the ordeal you experienced the night before and once again you light what makes your heart die little by little with every puff.
Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease, and the faster you realize it, the better it is for your heart and your life. What may motivate you is learning that just a year after you give up smoking, the risk of experiencing a heart attack is halved.
Weight Management
People who are overweight have a higher chance of contracting heart disease. To avoid the pain that heart disease brings with it, one should eat healthy. Observing a well balanced diet that is low on fat and high in fruits and vegetables is a must. Plenty of physical exercise along with a nutritious diet can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep heart ailments ay bay.
Less Salt. More Heart.
Salt cellars from the table should be removed. In fact, you should also avoid using much salt in your food when you are cooking. Excessive salt intake affects blood pressure levels adversely and could exert a strain on your heart. However, you may make this a practice at home and for the foods you cook, but keep a check on processed foods as well, read the label to learn the salt content.
Oily Fish
Oily Fish are a great addition to your diet for a healthy heart. Oily Fish like Mackerel, Fresh Tuna, Salmon and Sardines are a great source of omega-3 fats that protect one’s heart from heart disease.
Don’t stress. Walk.
When you have a deadline to meet, or you are worried about someone near and dear to you, do not let the stress affect your heart. Take a walk, and you will see that it helps you think straight and act better instead of getting bogged down and exerting pressure on your heart’s health.
Saturated fat
Pick a healthier diet by eating leaner cuts of meat. Steam them along with some nutritious vegetables instead of pan-frying them. Choose healthy fats (like omega’s) and switch to whole wheat bread.
There are indeed a number of things you can do to prevent heart disease, just identifying that you want to make a difference is indeed half the battle one. However, it is important that you consult a nutritionist and make changes to your lifestyle in accordance to see results that will make your heart sing.
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