6 Healthy Habits That Help Your Heart
February is known as American Heart Month, but that does not mean you should only worry about your heart’s health in February! Learn how you can take care of your heart all year long in this article.
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation in December 1963 designating February 1964 as the very first American Heart Health Month in order to encourage people to live healthier through better diets, regular exercise, and different ways to establish healthy habits. (acc.com)
Your heart is a muscular organ the size of a closed fist that is always working. It pumps blood through a network of blood vessels known as your cardiovascular system. Your heart receives deoxygenated blood carrying metabolic waste from the body and pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation to then pump it to other body parts with hormones and other vital substances throughout your body. It is also responsible for maintaining your blood pressure.
Maintaining a healthy heart involves things you should do more of, as well as things you should try to avoid. Here are some thing you want to avoid if possible, or keep to an absolute minimum:
Sitting all day
Overindulging in alcohol
Stress
Not Flossing your teeth
Excessive salt (sodium) intake
Not getting enough sleep
Incorporating more good habits into your life might actually lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is commonly linked to heart attack and stroke. Here are some ideas of what you should be trying to do more of:
Eating a heart healthy diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and is low in sugar. Avoid saturated and trans-fats, processed foods and excessive sodium.
Maintaining a healthy weight and BMI (Body Mass Index). To find out your BMI, try this BMI calculator. According to the CDC, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.5. BMI is calculated using your height and body weight
Increase regular physical activity to at least 20 minutes each day
Avoid using tobacco
Avoid excessive alcohol intake (none is best)
Check your blood pressure and blood sugar regularly
Eating healthier and being more active everyday may help you feel better, have more energy and is beneficial for your heart. Just be sure to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise regimens and find out if you should avoid anything that may negatively interact with any medications.
Talem Home Care - Broomfield supports heart health. If you are trying to figure out how to incorporate more healthy habits into your, or a loved ones, lifestyle, our home care specialists can help! Talem offers in-home care services and can assist with meal preparation, creating an activity calendar and assisting with physical activities.
Our in-home care providers can also help with personal care, such as bathing, dressing and house cleaning, help manage finances, arrange transportation to medical appointments and more. To learn more about these, and our other services, visit talemhomecare-broomfield.com or give us a call at (720) 789-8529.
