Maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle

When you think about it, our heart gets through a tremendous amount of work for such a tiny organ.
The average adult’s heart pumps out between 5 and 20 litres of blood per minute and beats more than 100,000 times a day. If you pile lifestyle stresses on top of all this hard work, your heart might not be able to cope. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to keep your heart in great shape by living your life with your cardiovascular health in mind!

Although the risk of heart disease increases with age, there are things you can do to lower or reverse your risk of heart disease. As part of treatment for heart disease, you may to need to make changes to your lifestyle and dietary habits. Managing blood pressure is critical since both high and low blood pressure can result in heart disease.

High blood pressure, often called the “silent killer,” typically presents no noticeable symptoms until serious health problems occur. However, in some cases, symptoms like headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, or vision changes may arise, especially when blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels. These signs are often mistaken for other conditions, delaying proper diagnosis.

If you have children, you can be their healthy role model. If your habits are healthy, your children are more likely to build those habits in their own lives.

1. If you smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products, try to quit.

Quitting is one of the most important things you can do to protect your heart. If you can’t quit, cut back as much as you can.

2. Eating healthy food.

This is one of the best things you can do to prevent and control many health problems. Heart disease is caused by fatty deposits in your arteries – cutting down your fat consumption is therefore key to preventing heart disease!

3. Be active.

An active lifestyle doesn’t mean running a marathon every other week or starting a rigorous rock-climbing regime. All you need is three 30-minute sessions of moderate-intensity exercise each week. This can consist of swimming, weightlifting, running, etc.

4. Relax.

If you work in a high-stress job or the pressures of life are getting you down, take some time to practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing or yoga.

5. Stay at a weight that's right for you.

A good weight is one that works for your body type and will keep your heart healthy. Talk to your doctor if you need help.

6. Get a healthy amount of sleep.

Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. This amount of sleep can help revitalize your heart, body, and mind.

7. Get screening tests.

Seeing your doctor regularly and getting screening tests is important. The sooner your doctor diagnoses a disease, the more likely it can be cured or managed. Talk to your doctor to find out which tests are right for you.

It is important to remember that a heart-healthy lifestyle is vital for everyone, not just for people with existing health problems. It can help you keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. If you already have health problems, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, a healthy lifestyle can help you lower your risk of a heart attack and stroke.
Remember, it’s never too late to start living a healthy lifestyle.
Your heart matters. Don’t miss a beat.