Keeping your heart healthy and stable is easier than you may think. Certain lifestyle modifications can easily help you keep heart disease and myocardial infarction (heart attack) at bay. Here are some essential lifestyle tips to hold onto your heart health.
Make sure to have a balanced, healthy diet
It is essential to incorporate lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as tuna, salmon, or herring into your diet. Reduce your intake of fatty, red meats, sodium, trans/saturated fats, and foods that are high in refined sugar. Making sure that your diet has variety is a surefire way to supply your body with the essential nutrients it needs.
Take moments to unwind and de-stress
It is also crucial to have ways to relax for the sake of stress management. Taking enough time to power down and recharge after a long day, practicing yoga, and meditation are all excellent ways to keep your stress levels under control. Heightened emotions like anger can increase the risk of myocardial infarction, so remember to remain calm and collected.
Give up smoking
If you are not a smoker or have already quit, you are already one step ahead of the game. However, if you are a smoker, you must quit for the sake of your heart health if not for all the detrimental effects of cigarettes. Consult your physician about your smoking cessation options. Even those who only smoke five or fewer cigarettes per day can exhibit early signs of cardiovascular disease, so the faster you quit, the better.
Keep a close watch on your blood pressure
A high blood pressure increases the risk of both heart disease and myocardial infarction. Keeping your stress levels low, eating healthy, and being physically active on a regular basis go a long way in lowering blood pressure. Your physician may also prescribe you medicines to manage your blood pressure if needed.
Pay attention to your blood sugar
Excess sugar in the blood can be damaging to the arteries, which is a common occurrence in both prediabetes and diabetes. Consult your doctor about how to manage your blood sugar levels, which may decrease your risk of suffering from a stroke or heart attack. Be warned that you cannot detect diabetes or hypertension without tests.
Watch your cholesterol levels
As blood makes it way through the arteries, it can leave traces of fat and cholesterol along the way, leading to a plaque buildup. This buildup can increase the likelihood of myocardial infarction, so if you are unaware of your cholesterol levels, make sure to get them checked. It is important to note that there are two cholesterol types. LDL cholesterol is known as bad cholesterol and can increase the risk of heart disease and heart attack. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, is good for the heart. A healthy diet low in trans/saturated fats coupled with regular exercise is an ideal way to reduce LDL cholesterol. However, some may require medications in addition to lifestyle changes.
Manage your weight
Being overweight also increases the risk of heart disease and myocardial infarction. Once again, a healthy diet and regular exercise can be very effective in weight management. If you are unsure about what your ideal weight range is, consult your doctor or a dietitian.
Find out about aspirin
Aspirin is a blood-thinner, so discuss the daily use of aspirin with your doctor as this can lower the risk of myocardial infarction in some.
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Posted on May 22, 2023