How to Keep Your Heart Healthy Proactive and Preventative Measures

How to Keep Your Heart Healthy: Proactive and Preventative Measures

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It is responsible for pumping blood throughout your body, as well as delivering oxygen and nutrients to all of your tissues. That’s why it’s so important to take steps to keep your heart healthy. Here are some proactive and preventative measures that you can take to protect your heart.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in North America. It’s responsible for more than 25% of all deaths each year. But the good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. And even if you already have heart disease, these steps can help improve your heart health and quality of life. 

Know The Risks

The first step is to know your risk factors for heart disease. Some risk factors, like family history, cannot be changed. But others, like high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes, can be changed with lifestyle modifications or medication. If you have any of these risk factors, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how you can manage them.

Once you know your risks, you can take steps to lower them. Quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise are all great ways to do this. Even if there is something in your family history that predisposes you to heart problems, monitoring these more closely than other people do is a good proactive measure.

Know Signs And Symptoms

If you want to take a proactive approach to your heart health, you should also know the signs and symptoms of heart disease. These can include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and an irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of these, it’s important to see a doctor right away.

There are also some less obvious signs of heart disease. These include things like trouble sleeping, indigestion, and anxiety. If you have any of these, it’s important to talk to your doctor about them.

Take Supplements

There are a few supplements that have been shown to be beneficial for heart health. These include fish oil, CoQ-supplements, and magnesium. Fish oil is a great source of omega-three fatty acids, which have been shown to protect against heart disease. CoQ-supplements can help improve heart function. And magnesium has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of arrhythmias.

Studies have also shown that Full Spectrum CBD Oil can benefit the heart and circulatory system as a whole. In particular, if you have high blood pressure – which can put you at greater risk of having a heart attack – CBD may help to lower it. 

Get Regular Checkups

Even if you don’t have any risk factors or symptoms of heart disease, it’s important to see your doctor regularly for checkups. This is because many forms of heart disease can be present without any symptoms. And the sooner a problem is detected, the better the chances are of treating it successfully. Taking a proactive approach to your health is something that more people are becoming aware of, as prevention is always better than cure.

Create A Healthy Eating Plan

Eating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your heart. There are a few different ways to approach this. One is to eat more fruits and vegetables, and less processed foods. Another is to focus on eating whole foods, rather than processed ones. Alternatively, you can try following a specific diet plan, like the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet. ‘DASH’ stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and its focus on lowering blood pressure is helpful for people looking to improve and protect their heart health.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise is another great way to improve your heart health. It can help to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Exercise can also help to improve your overall health and well-being. If you’re not used to exercising, start slowly and build up gradually. Even a small amount of exercise is better than none at all. It also helps to find an exercise form you really love, as you’ll be more likely to stick to it long term. So spend some time trying different things to see what you like.

Reduce Stress

Stress can have a negative impact on your heart health. It can raise blood pressure and contribute to unhealthy behaviors, like smoking and overeating. If you’re looking to improve your heart health, it’s important to find ways to reduce stress in your life. This might mean taking up yoga or meditation, or finding other activities that help you relax, such as reading or spending time in nature. 

Get A Coach

Making some lifestyle changes can go a long way towards protecting your heart, but it can be tough to transition into a new way of living. If you’re struggling to make some of these changes, or you’re not sure where to start, consider working with a health coach. A health coach can help you create a personalized plan to improve your heart health. They can also provide support and accountability, which can be really helpful when making lifestyle changes.

Many people who work with a health coach end up having a long term relationship with them, as it helps to keep them on track with their goals. It can be easy to start slipping into old habits once you feel you have made a bit of progress, so a form of continuous coaching may be the thing that helps you make a sustained and meaningful change.

Julia Davis

Mental health expert
MS, University of Latvia

I am deeply convinced that each patient needs a unique, individual approach. Therefore, I use different psychotherapy methods in my work. During my studies, I discovered an in-depth interest in people as a whole and the belief in the inseparability of mind and body, and the importance of emotional health in physical health. In my spare time, I enjoy reading (a big fan of thrillers) and going on hikes.

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