- Kick the butt: Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death. The nicotine in the cigarettes narrows the blood vessels in the heart making the heart to work more than normal to pump out the body's requirement of blood. People who smoke have twice as much a chance to develop a heart disease than people who don't smoke. So throw away the pack, light up a positive start to a healthier life.
- Dump the junk: Junk food like chips, crispies, fizzy drinks, pizzas and burgers contain a high amount of salt. Too much salt is bad for the heart. It raises your blood pressure causing the blood to flow with speedily and eventually ends up in heart tissue damage.
- Eat Smart: You are what you eat. So eating healthy is very important if you want to stay healthy. A balanced diet is recommended for a healthy heart with a proper balance of wholegrain foods, fresh vegetables and fruits. Fish and fish oils and green tea are packed with heart friendly antioxidants. Olive oil is a great substitute for your normal cooking oils as it helps in lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) in your blood, keeping your arteries safe from getting blocked.
- Get Moving: The heart is a muscle and like all other muscles of the body, the heart too needs its share of workout. 30 to 45 minutes of moderate to intense workout or even a brisk walk can do wonders for your heart! If hitting the gym isn't your cup of tea, you can do more fun things, like aerobics, dancing or even climbing up and down a hill! So get up and get moving!
- Take more than the 40 winks: With the kind of fast-paced lives people lead today, the first thing to take the hit is sleep. The body requires its resting time so it can function to its optimal capacity. 6 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep is very important for the healthy functioning of all the body parts.
- Unwind: The body reflects the mind. A stressed-out mind will be reflected as a tired body with no energy in it. The negativity in the mind affects the body negatively too; no wonder the number of psychosomatic diseases is on the rise! So do things that make you happy, things that give you pleasure. Go for a drive, put on your favorite music, take your child out to the park or do whatever brings a smile to your lips. This will go a long way in keeping your heart smiling too!
- Regular health check-ups: Most of the conditions that cause damage to the heart are long-standing and often show no symptoms. You won’t come to know of them unless you get tested for them. A regular check for the blood pressure,blood sugar levels and blood cholesterol levels is a must, more so if you have a family history of heart disease.
A healthy heart means a healthier you - Tips to keep your heart healthy!
A healthy heart means a healthier you - Tips to keep your heart healthy!
Your heart is at the centre of your being. It is responsible for the functioning of all your vital organs. Hence it is very important to place your heart on the top of the list when it comes to taking care of your body.
To start with, one needs to concentrate on the key lifestyle areas i.e. proper diet, regular exercise, no smoking and nil alcohol consumption. People with a family history of heart disease need to concentrate more on keeping their heart healthy and consciously avoid the risk factors which may lead to the development of heart diseases.
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