10 tips for a healthy heart
- Maintain a healthy diet: A diet low in saturated and trans fats, salt, and added sugars and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats can help keep your heart healthy.
- Exercise regularly: Regular physical activity helps improve heart health by strengthening the heart muscle, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and managing weight.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can increase the risk of heart disease. Learning stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help reduce stress levels.
- Quit smoking: Smoking is a leading cause of heart disease. Quitting smoking can help lower the risk of heart disease.
- Control blood pressure: High blood pressure can damage the heart and blood vessels. Regular blood pressure checks and medication prescribed by a doctor can help manage blood pressure levels.
- Control cholesterol levels: High levels of cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease. A healthy diet and medication prescribed by a doctor can help manage cholesterol levels.
- Limit alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and contribute to heart disease. Moderate drinking is recommended, which is no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can contribute to high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of heart disease. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help maintain a healthy weight.
- Visit your doctor regularly: Regular check-ups can help detect and manage any potential risk factors for heart disease. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for managing any health conditions you may have.
