Do you want to practice better heart care? Here are some things you can do every day to do just that.
Eat clean
When it comes to keeping your heart healthy, any cardiologist will tell you that it all starts with your diet. You want to make sure you avoid things that are high in cholesterol, saturated fat, sugar, and salt. Instead, you should eat foods like veggies, fruits, fish, and other healthy snacks. Fish has a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which work well to improve your cholesterol levels.
Exercise
As a rule of thumb for heart care, you want to make sure you are getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. You can jog in place while you’re watching your favorite TV show, or you can take the dog for a walk after dinner. You want to make sure the time you spend with moderately intense exercise adds up to 150 minutes by the end of the week. You also want to make sure you aren’t sitting for long periods at a time.
Brush and floss
You wouldn’t think that in cardiology centers in hospitals around the country that doctors are telling their patients to get better at dental care in order to help their hearts, but they are. Dental health is always a sign of good overall health. This is especially true for heart health because those with periodontal disease have the same risk factors for heart disease. The bacteria in your mouth caused by gum disease can move into your bloodstream and cause an increase in the protein that makes your blood vessels inflame. In order to practice good heart care, you need to practice good dental care too.
Get enough sleep
your sleeping habits can also have an impact on your heart health. A lack of sleep can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, even if the rest of your health is in good shape. Not enough sleep causes disruptions in your biological processes and other underlying health conditions, including blood pressure and inflammation. You want to get between six and eight hours of sleep every night to lower your risk.
Stay hydrated
Lastly, you want to make sure you are always drinking enough water. A lack of water consumption can have a serious negative effect on your health in many ways, and that especially goes for your heart health.
Across America, heart disease is the number one cause of death. You want to make sure you practice good heart care by eating well, exercising, brushing and flossing, sleeping well, and drinking enough water. These simple things you can do every day just might save your life.