We always talk about what our “heart” wants. The heart is an important organ in our body and heart health should be taken seriously. It pumps blood to all the body parts, without which the body will stop functioning.
The heart is a soft organ situated in the chest. The actions performed by the heart make it an important organ. Caring for your heart is as important as caring for your skin or hair.
What is Heart Health and its importance?
Heart health refers to the health condition of the heart. Though the heart is one organ, it has different parts. It’s divided into chambers that work on pumping blood to body parts and circulating the blood through the body.
Heart well-being is vital for the overall health. It keeps the heart healthy and lets it work fluently and efficiently. It depends on many factors such as heartbeat, blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar, etc.
Good heart well-being protects it from infections, ensures proper functioning of all the body parts and makes one active and full of energy.
How to achieve a good Heart Health
You can control how your health fares. These healthy eating habits can boost your heart and protect you from diseases like type 2 diabetes, asthma, joint pains and other chronic diseases.
Taking care of your heart and making positive changes can also bring positive changes in your life. It can make you more energised and bring a positive change in your life.
Here are some possible tips that will help your heart in being healthy:
Stop smoking
Smoking damages the DNA of the heart and weakens the heart valves. Smoking reduces the size of blood vessels by clogging them, thus increasing the risk of various diseases like high blood pressure and heart attack. The clogging of blood vessels can even lead to gangrene because it may cut off the blood flow to other body parts.
Limit your salt intake
Studies have proven that the excess intake of salt is the root cause of various diseases such as hypertension, high blood sugar, and some heart diseases. 2300 mg of salt a day is an ideal limit. This limit can be different for everyone as everybody’s need is different.
Make yourself physically active
Lack of activity increases your chances of getting heart disease by two times. Swimming, walking, playing, dancing, and jumping are some of the best physical exercises. Walk at least 5000 steps a day and exercise for a minimum of 15 minutes.
The importance of food
Eating healthy food will keep your heart healthy. Consume fruits and vegetables to ensure that all the nutrition requirements are met. Broccoli, kiwi, strawberries, bananas, cranberries, almonds, and peanut butter are good food for the heart.
Take the Tooth-health seriously
Good oral and dental hygiene is important for both your tooth health & heart health, as the gums and bacteria of the mouth can put your heart health at risk. Bacteria and other germs can reach your heart through the bloodstream and attack the heart.
Your weight matters
Being obese or overweight increases the risk of high blood pressure, leading to an increased risk of heart attack. Being overweight also increases breathing problems, liver problems, gall bladder problems and can even lead to cancer.
Even a small weight change can lead to a positive change.
Conclusion
The heart is responsible for controlling most of the essential activities of the body. Embracing a healthy lifestyle at any age can lower the risk of heart disease.
Yes, it is essential to start taking care when young, but it’s never too late. Swapping unhealthy food for healthier food can make a huge difference, even if you’ve suffered from a heart attack or are suffering from any heart disease.