You're never too old or young to worry about your heart health. We already know that heart rate and age correlate, but what habits can you take to keep your heart healthy? Ditch the unhealthy habits and minor bad decisions. Here's what you should start doing now to keep your heart healthy.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
You don't have to do intense cardio endurance exercises - unless you're into that of course. Any activity that gets your heart rate up will work, so it can be walking, running, swimming, dancing, or anything you're into! Just getting more steps into your day can have a positive impact on the health of your heart. As long as you're not in the sedentary position too long, you're helping yourself out more than you know. Resistance and strength training also work, as weight bearing activities can help to reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Eat A Healthy Diet & Manage Your Weight
Eating healthy is an obvious solution for a healthier heart, yet many people neglect this. You want to eat a heart-healthy diet that is full of nutrients and good fats. This means watching saturated fats and your salt intake - which can lead to blocked blood vessels. In addition to this, you want to manage your weight. Figure out your BMI or weight circumference, and adjust your diet or exercise as needed to stay there. Keeping a healthy weight will keep your heart healthy in the long run!
Get A Good Night's Sleep
This one may come shocking to some, but it's amazing how your sleep can affect your heart health. Most of us don't get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and lack of good quality sleep is a huge problem. Conditions like sleep apnea or insomnia can actually raise your blood pressure, as lack of sleep in general can affect the way your body processes blood sugar. Thus make it a priority to establish good sleep habits for healthy heart habits. Simple ways to do this is making things as peaceful as possible before you sleep, making your room dark and quiet, and turning off all electronic devices at least an hour before sleep time.
Moderate Your Drinking, Smoking, & Stress
Lastly, you should be mindful of how much alcohol you consume. The blood alcohol content on your blood can easily raise your blood pressure, as many alcohols contain a lot of sugar which can constrict your blood vessels as well. Hand-in-hand, stop smoking if you do. You'll instantly see more positive results with your health, as you probably already know all the dangers smoking brings. The final habit to break is stress. Stress is inevitable, but it's one of the highest silent killers we don't take seriously. Start managing your stress now to save you later in life.
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-Gina
