Most of us are aware that our heart is in the center of all our bodies. Our heart is affected every day by both external and internal factors. When it comes to personal health, the heart always tops the list. 

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. To know what are the ways to keep our hearts healthy, let us understand a little more about our hearts. Our hearts are amazing pumps. It has its own electrical system, which allows it to contract without any input from nerve cells. The heart is composed of muscles that are able to pump over 100,000 gallons of blood through our body every day.

The importance of heart health is often overlooked. Most people think it is just the concern of those who had a cardiac or stroke event and while that might be true, our hearts are working 24/7 to perform a variety of functions. We should also remember that exercise can actually help us prevent such events from happening. As a matter of fact, maintaining a well-conditioned body not only reduces the risk of cardiac and arterial disease but also helps you achieve the state of perfect health desired by everyone.

Today I would like to share some ways how to take care of our hearts.

1. Get active

Many of us know that getting active is a great way to stave off heart disease or keep our heart healthy, but we don’t all know the ins and outs of how it works. Simply put, getting active helps us manage our blood pressure and cholesterol, which in turn reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity every day, but if you’re new to exercise, 10 minutes three times a day can suffice. Begin with something simple, such as walking or yoga, and work your way up.

2. Eat heart-healthy foods

Hypertension, as well as high blood cholesterol, can both be prevented by eating heart-healthy foods. When it comes to these things, a small change can make a big difference. Balance is key; a few fewer servings of your favourite foods here and there can help reduce your risk factors significantly. 

So what do you need to look for when you’re buying food for your heart?

• Saturated fat: No more than 1 gram per serving
• Trans fat: zero grams per serving
• Cholesterol: Less than 20 mg per serving (most foods contain 0 mg)
• Sodium: Less than 140 mg per serving
• Fibre: 5 or more grams per serving
• Canned or frozen veggies should be chosen over fresh if they have the same nutrients; frozen veggies are typically better because they are picked and frozen at their peak ripeness

3. Maintain a healthy weight

One of the best ways we can keep our hearts healthy is to maintain a healthy weight. Plus, it’s easier to be active when we are at a healthy weight. Getting at or below a healthy weight means eating foods that are low in calories, sugars, and fats and doing physical activity at least 5 days a week.

4. Quit smoking 

Quitting smoking can save your life. If you smoke, know that you are putting yourself in danger—not just of lung cancer and other respiratory conditions, but also heart disease. Your heart doesn’t like the secondhand smoke either, and those cigarettes will inevitably end up causing some sort of damage.

5. If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation

New research is showing that drinking alcohol in moderation may be good for your heart. Moderate drinking means: Not more than 3 drinks a day for men, and not more than 2 drinks a day for women. Avoid binge drinking. Drinking moderation can:

1. help lower your blood pressure

2. lower your risk of diabetes

3. reduce the chances of irregular heart rhythms

4. protect against stroke

6. Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is important for your heart’s health. That’s because blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and stress levels are all affected by how much you sleep. It’s sleep that helps prevent the risk factors for heart disease by allowing your body to rest and repair itself while avoiding stressors like fatigue, overeating, and high cholesterol.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, so even small positive changes you take to keep your heart healthy can be helpful.

These are some simple ways to make your heart happy and healthy.

We all know the saying that says “Health is Wealth”. This quote has been around for a long time and still holds today. Without our heart pumping blood through our body, we would quickly die. Our heart is also involved in helping us keep fit and healthy at all times as well as giving us energy; if it gets sick, then we suffer greatly.