According to recent study, cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death. To make matters worse, it is believed that about 2,150 people die of heart-related problems EVERYDAY, which equates to one every 40 seconds1. Those are some horrifying statistics. The good news is, there are things you can do to keep your heart healthy and avoid becoming one of the 85,6 million Americans who live with some form of cardiovascular disease or the after-effects of stroke2.
Keep reading to find out the 3 good practices to keep your heart healthy, suggested by our Spring Hill Urgent Care specialists.
1. Watch your diet
Making healthy food choices is the best thing you can do to keep your heart in good shape. With the food industry trying to cut corners and cut costs, eating healthy is becoming more and more challenging. Reading labels on the products you buy and the ability to decipher harmful substances that are put into processed foods is a must. Avoid sugar and trans fats, but do not exclude fat from your diet altogether. This is a common mistake many people make, but good fats, such as omega 3, can actually help prevent cardiovascular disease. You will find them in nuts, seeds and oily fish such as tuna or salmon.
2. Get enough sleep
This seems like an obvious one, yet so many people ignore their bodies’ need for rest. Depending on the lifestyle you maintain, you need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep to give your heart enough time to regenerate. According to a recent study, people who slept less than six hours per night doubled the risk of having a stroke compared to people who slept at least 8 hours3. During sleep, our bodies undergo multiple biochemical processes aimed at healing and regeneration, but it takes time, so make sure to rest and get enough sleep to prevent heart problems in the future.
3. Exercise on regular basis
Physical activity can significantly decrease the risk of heart disease. It lowers your blood pressure, reduces cortisol levels (also known as the ‘stress hormone’) as well as bad LDL cholesterol, responsible for cumulating fatty deposits and blocking your arteries. But we’re not talking spending hours at the gym every day! According to our Spring Hill Urgent Care specialist, a daily 30-minute walk is enough to have a positive effect upon most heart-related conditions. Leave your car at home and take a walk instead – your heart will thank you for it.
Besides prevention, another good idea is to have regular check ups. For fast, reliable, diagnostic imaging and clinical testing turn to the experts at Lifeguard Urgent Care Center. With state-of-the-art x-rays, labs, and EKG’s conveniently located within our urgent care center in Spring Hill, our highly-trained technologists will get to the bottom of what’s wrong without making you endure the painful wait of an emergency room. For more information, visit our website or give us a call – we look forward to seeing you soon!
Web services provided by Red Castle Services.
