February is American Heart Month and we must focus on keeping our hearts healthy. Are you guilty of not paying enough attention to your heart health? Many people tend to ignore that one little organ that keeps everything working in the body. It’s easy to take the heart for granted because it holds up well to all sorts of negative, outside elements.
However, regardless of your age or current health status, it’s important to ensure you’re doing what your heart needs to continue functioning well for many years to come.
Take action with these tips to stay as heart-healthy as possible:
Reduce stress. Stress is a notorious “silent factor” for putting the heart at great risk for heart attack and stroke. Maintain control over possible stressors so they don’t wreak havoc on your heart.
- Always bear in mind that there’s no point worrying about things you can’t control. Sometimes it’s better to let unavoidable situations run their course and concentrate on a game plan afterward.
- Ensure that you balance work life with personal life so neither takes full control of your consciousness. That balance will help you spend only the time you need to spend on each without unnecessary worry.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts you at risk for heart disease. To maintain a healthy weight, eat nutritiously, adhere to a fitness regimen, and make positive lifestyle choices.
Check online to determine what your ideal weight range is for your age and height. Try to stick to that range and take action if you notice you’ve either exceeded or fallen below it.
- Check online to determine what your ideal weight range is for your age and height. Try to stick to that range and take action if you notice you’ve either exceeded or fallen below it.
- Habits like eating late at night or not having breakfast can negatively impact your weight.
Eat right. What you put into your body determines how your body behaves. Some foods enable the heart to thrive and others that put excessive burden on your heart, leaving it prone to disease or failure.
- Avoid eating foods that are high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat. Each element does its part to negatively impact your heart health as well as your overall well-being.
- Increase your intake of heart-healthy elements, such as omega-3 fish oil found in tuna and salmon, fibrous fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins.
Work out regularly. One of the age-old remedies for maintaining good overall health is to ensure exercise is a regular part of your daily routine. There are many benefits to giving yourself at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week:
- You successfully lower LDL, commonly known as bad cholesterol, and reduce the chances of cholesterol-related issues negatively impacting the heart.
- Regular exercise also lowers blood pressure.
- Exercise causes the release of endorphins, which are the feel-good hormones responsible for keeping you happy and at peace. These endorphins also help you manage stress better, resulting in a healthier heart.
As you can see, the actions that keep your heart healthy also contribute to excellent overall health, keeping your body in peak condition! With a few minor adjustments and a little extra commitment to preserving good health, you’ll be well on your way to having a super-healthy heart!
