Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America.
It’s easy to neglect the threat of common heart problems, but heart disease can take years off your life if you ignore it.
That’s why you need to take active measures toward preventing heart problems today. Check out our six tips below to get started.
Table of Contents
1. Eat Well
One of the most important ways of improving heart health is often overlooked. Did you know that 36.5 percent of American adults are obese? Or that thirty-two and a half percent of American adults are overweight?
This means only a third of Americans currently sit at a healthy weight. Given the vast number of fast-food options and processed meals, this isn’t too much of a surprise.
A heart-healthy diet should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. When you’re at the grocery store, pay attention to the labels. Beware of foods high in carbs, sugar, saturated fats, and sodium.
2. Don’t Drink Your Calories
For food-lovers, counting calories isn’t our favorite. Thankfully, there’s one quick trick that’ll save you hundreds of calories.
Skip the soda, lattes, and energy drinks. Instead, stick to water. Staying hydrated protects you from heart failure. That’s why you should include plenty of it in your heart-healthy diet.
3. Get Active
Having a daily exercise routine is not only a great way of preventing heart problems. Exercising helps you age gracefully, live longer, and keep stress at bay.
You don’t need to be running marathons but aim for moderate aerobic exercise every day, or a few times a week.
4. Mind Your Stressors
Living a stress-free life is one of the most underrated ways for long-term heart health.
While it’s impossible to eliminate stress entirely from our lives, it helps to know what causes it. Believe it or not, excessive stress makes our hearts take a beating – and not in a good way.
Stress can cause common heart problems like atrial fibrillation. This disorder is what causes your heart to beat irregularly.
5. See Your Doctor
Even if you’re not too concerned with preventing heart problems, it’d be good to know if you were at risk.
Conditions that may jeopardize your heart health include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.
Keep in mind that some common heart problems are hereditary. This may be an issue you want to discuss with your doctor.
6. Sleep Well
A lack of sleep will do more than ruin your long-term heart health.
It could lead to stress, obesity, and high blood pressure. Worst-case scenario, you put yourself at risk of a heart attack.
Sleep at least seven hours a night to keep your heart in good condition.
Preventing Heart Problems for a Healthy Life
It’s easy to stick to old habits. Maybe you find yourself eating a lot of fast food and fountain drinks. Perhaps you spend too much time sitting at work and don’t have the time to get active.
No matter your lifestyle, start practicing these seven tips for preventing heart problems today.
For more tips on health and lifestyle, keep reading our site.
