What You Can Do to Improve Your Heart Health
Your heart is a muscle, just like every other muscle in your body. But unlike most of the rest of the muscles in your body, if your heart fails to beat and pump, you die. For this reason, your heart is often considered one of if not the most important organs of your body to protect. As we age, and with obesity and weight gain, our heart naturally grows weaker and can be impaired by blockages, cholesterol, and other cardiovascular health issues. Here are three things you can do to improve your heart health and keep it pumping for years to come.
Regular Exercise
The first thing that you must do to improve your heart health is to participate in frequent and regular physical exercise. Just like other muscles in your body, by exercising your heart through cardiovascular exercise, you can strengthen it and increase its muscle mass. This will allow your heart to beat stronger, harder, and less frequently – all of which are beneficial for your heart health. Try to get at least thirty minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise every single day to give your heart the workout it needs.
Adjust Your Diet
Another important thing that you can do to improve your heart health is to adjust your diet. If your diet is high in fat, cholesterol, salt, saturated fats, and/or sugars, then you are putting your heart through some difficulties. Cholesterol can build up in your blood and consuming a lot of fats and sugars can cause your blood pressure to rise. Some diets, including the Mediterranean diet, are good for your heart. Consider switching up your diet to a diet like the Mediterranean diet which focuses on whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy sources of fat.
Quit Smoking
The final thing that you can do to improve your heart health is to quit smoking. It has long been known that smoking causes serious long-term, often irreversible damage to your heart and lungs. If you are a regular smoker, doing your best to reduce your smoking or quit altogether is the most important thing that you can do to improve your heart health. If you are struggling to quit, reaching out for help and support can make it easier to stick with your plan.
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body. To keep it healthy, you’ve got to take action. If you can do these three things, your heart health is bound to improve rapidly.
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