Heart Health Tips
When was the last time you thought about your heart health? We want to bring attention to this serious topic. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 out of every 4 deaths in America is caused by heart disease. Don't let yourself become a statistic! Take care of your body and do not let heart disease get in your way.
4 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health:
- Eat a nutritious diet: What you eat can have a direct effect on your health, especially your heart health. This is why the American Heart Association suggests eating a nutritious diet that contains vegetables, fruits, unrefined whole grains and fish. It is also important to cut back on foods that are high in fat, cholesterol and sodium.
- Get enough sleep: Your health can be improved with a regular sleep schedule. Research has shown a correlation between sleep and having an increased risk of coronary heart disease. According to the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, inadequate sleep appears to contribute to cardiovascular disease. To improve your sleep schedule, try to limit your caffeine intake and stop caffeine consumption after 2pm.
- Manage your stress: Increased stress can have a negative impact on your health, although research from the American Heart Association has not proven a direct link between stress and heart disease. However, it has been proven that stress does affect behaviors and factors that are known to increase heart disease including high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, smoking, physical inactivity and overeating. It is important to manage your stress for your overall health.
- Quit smoking: Everyone knows that smoking can be detrimental to your health. But did you know smoking can cause atherosclerosis-a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries? Atherosclerosis has been shown to lead to coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. You are never too old to quit smoking. Do it for your heart!
Maintaining good heart health is very important. With heart disease causing so many deaths in America, it is crucial to be proactive with your health. Remember to consult your doctor when making any health changes. Give CareLinkTM a call at 513-766-3307.
Information adapted from the American Heart Association, Center for Disease Control, and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.