Keeping Your Heart Healthy and Strong: Part 2
You are already well aware of the importance of keeping your heart healthy and strong. Whether you’re at risk of serious heart problems or you just want to be proactive, knowing how to take care of your heart is an essential part of being a healthy adult. You’ve read about the importance of staying in touch with your heart doctor at a trusted cardiac rehab clinic, the fact that you should drink more water, and the importance of working out a bit more frequently. But now it’s time to take a deeper dive into how to better protect your heart.
Approximately one in seven Americans has an orthopedic impairment, and heart issues are quite common as well. Don’t ignore your heart problems anymore. Here are some additional things to consider in order to keep your heart healthy and strong:
Avoid trans fats and eat healthy fats instead
Trans fats actually increase your risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke during your lifetime because they clog your arteries by raising your bad cholesterol levels and lowering your good cholesterol levels. By removing these unhealthy fats from your diet, however, you will drastically improve the blood flow throughout your body. Healthy fats are a much better option for your diet, especially if you have a family history of heart disease. Talk to a professional cardiologist or your heart doctor about what kinds of food products you should avoid if you’re unsure.
Try eating more fish
According to researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, eating fish at least twice a week actually lowers a person’s heart disease risk by more than 30%. While Americans love their red meat, their are much healthier alternatives if you aren’t ready to cut meat out of your diet altogether. Because fish have omega-3 fatty acids, this food, in moderation, is great for protecting and strengthening your heart.
Sleep more often
Sleep is essential for keeping your heart healthy and strong. A recent study took a look at 3,000 adults over the age of 45 and found that those who slept fewer than six hours a night were about twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as people who slept closer to eight hours a night. Your body needs to be well rested for your heart to be strong, so get some shut-eye.
Don’t let even the smallest heart issue jeopardize your livelihood any longer. It’s time to take much better care of your health, and your heart is a great place to start. To learn more about heart services available at quality cardiovascular centers, speak to your heart doctor today. Give Carolina East Medical a call and good luck on your path to a healthier heart!
