We hear it all of the time. Heart health is everywhere, and for good reasons! Nine in 10 women are at risk of heart disease, and one in three women die from heart disease. It’s time to change those statistics, and one way to do that is changing your lifestyle. Here are few ways to lead a heart healthy life because we care for your hearts and you should too!

Eat Well

Burgers, fries, chocolate cakes! Oh my! All of the foods that make your stomach growl and your mouth water aren’t the best options for your heart. Instead, opt for foods that are good for your heart. For instance, you could eat a dinner of grilled salmon, asparagus and quinoa. All of these are nutritious and heart-healthy.  

Exercise

We know that exercising isn’t the most fun activity, but it’s a necessary action for a healthy heart. Just 30 minutes of exercise on most days can help. Be sure to get your heart pumping. And don’t forget to check with your provider before starting a new exercise regimen.

Kick Unhealthy Habits

From drinking too much to smoking, unhealthy habits can seriously (and negatively) affect our hearts. Smoking might be an addiction, but there are ways to stop. Talk to your healthcare provider about solutions to help you kick the smoking habit. As for drinking, be mindful and try to limit your alcohol consumption.

Sleep Properly

It might be hard to get a full eight hours of shut eye, but we need sleep for our bodies to function properly. Also, getting the right kind of sleep means shutting down those electronics devices 30 minutes prior to when you plan to fall asleep. That means no phones, computers, tablets or TV right before bed. The blue light of the screens can interfere with your sleep cycles.

Minimize Stress

Life is stressful. It’s as simple as that. From financial burdens to children to health concerns and so much more, we often allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. Try to find an outlet, like exercise, to relieve some of the stress you accumulate throughout the day.

Set Goals

If you have bad habits, like smoking or drinking too much alcohol, set goals to help you break those habits and lead a healthier life. For instance, if you drink five beers every night after dinner, try drinking just three for one week. Then the next week, you can try drinking just two, and so on until you are only drinking occasionally.

Get Screened

Health screenings are so important to leading a heart healthy lifestyle. After all, many of the heart conditions we face show no symptoms, like high blood pressure or high blood glucose levels. Getting heart health screenings from your healthcare provider is a great way to stay on top of your health and learn about any risk factors you might face.
For a full list of heart health screenings to take this year, check out our blog post. If you are ready to discuss your health or learn more ways to lead a heart healthy life, contact us to set up an appointment with one of our providers!