We all want healthy hearts and to live long, happy, and healthy lives and avoid medical situations such as heart disease, stroke, or heart failure. While we all have different health needs, we all have the power to make heart-healthy choices! Here are 6 heart-healthy habits for you to adopt today.
1. Strengthen Your Heart Through Exercise
Your heart loves physical activity. Making exercise a regular component of your lifestyle is a way to support your health in both the short-term and the long-term. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting, “at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.”
2. Stop Smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the very best things you can do to prevent heart disease that is in your control. Period. The American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage you to quit smoking and the use of all tobacco products (Healthline). Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free support today (CDC).
3. Clean Up Your Diet
It’s okay to start with consistent, small changes! The CDC encourages you to eat, “more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat
dairy products” and, “less salt, saturated fat,and added sugar.” The goal is to create a healthy lifestyle, so try to avoid crash-dieting!
4. Get to Know Your Health History
Think about your immediate family, extended family, and family tree. Is there a prevalence of any heart issues? If you’re not sure, do a little digging and get to know any genetic risk factors you may have. Additionally, sit down with your doctor, discuss your health history, and look into any potential personal risk factors you may have. This will help both you and your doctor know how to put together the best health plan for you (CDC)!
5. Laugh
Did you know that laughing is good for your heart? According to the American Heart Association, “research suggests laughing can lower stress hormones, decrease inflammation in your arteries, and raise your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HLD), also known as “good cholesterol” (Healthline). Hang out with some good friends, look up a funny video, or look for the humor in life and laugh it up!
6. Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home
Purchasing a self-measured blood pressure monitor is a great way to check in with your heart on a daily basis! Especially if you already have heart issues or think you might be more at risk for heart issues, keeping tabs on how it’s doing daily can help you see if there’s any concerning changes or anything you want to bring up to your doctor. Many of these self-measured blood pressure monitors are reasonably priced and easy to use (CDC)!
Taking care of your heart is a big deal. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to support your heart health! One of those things is getting connected with a good doctor. At Compass Community Health, our team of Primary Care Providers is prepared to support you on your health journey! Don’t let your health wait. Reach out today!
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-Email: info@compasscommunityhealth.org,
-Message us on Facebook @ Compass Community Health
-Call: 740-355-7102
-Address: 1634 11th St, Portsmouth, OH 45662
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