Make A Daily Commitment
You can choose to have a healthy heart by making good choices and a daily habit to follow a positive routine. Take time each day to consciously choose to improve and maintain good health.
Eating Right
Eating right means avoiding the temptation to eat processed and fast food. Be conscious about what you eat each day, which can prolong your life and keep you out of the emergency room. Make it your daily practice to keep your heart and blood vessels in optimum shape by eating heart-healthy food that includes fruit, vegetables, and healthy proteins that can include fish, chicken, beans, nuts, low-fat dairy and whole grains.
Be Mindful About Consuming Alcohol
Drinking excessively is bad for your health. Alcohol in excess can raise your cholesterol level and blood pressure. Drinking alcohol should be done responsibly, with no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women. Be aware of your family’s history with alcohol and your personal health, as some people are advised by their doctor not to drink at all.
Exercise
Your heart benefits from exercise and you can strengthen your heart muscle. It’s recommended to check with your doctor to discuss an appropriate exercise regimen. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise each day is beneficial and you can work up to that by exercising in 10 minute intervals. There are several methods for low-impact exercise that include brisk walking, swimming, and riding a bike that are all very good for your heart. Finding your comfort level, and getting up and out of that chair into a habit of exercise will give you a healthy start. Build up gradually, and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying the health benefits exercise brings.
Keep a healthy weight
Obesity increases your risk for heart disease and other serious diseases. Changing your diet and eating habits, along with becoming more physically active, can help you to significantly improve your health. Even lowering your weight by just 10 percent can make a significant difference in reducing your risk of heart disease.
Reduce stress
Your emotional health does impact your risk for heart disease. Stress can trigger, anger, anxiety and depression and can cause your blood pressure to rise, which can cause heart attack, stroke and other life threatening illnesses. Find ways to set aside time for yourself to enjoy activities you find relaxing that can include walking, visiting with a friend, taking a yoga class, listening to music, or even seeking counseling or a support group when under extreme stress or crisis.
Quit smoking
Smoking is a leading cause of heart disease and death, yet people continue to smoke even though we all know it is bad for our health. It’s never too late to quit. You can seek help from your doctor and programs to stop.