How to Improve the Health of Your Heart
By Sara Butler
Did you know that 1 in 4 people die of heart disease each year? It's true. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it's the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States. It's a scary statistic, but it's not one you have to live with. There are some proactive things you can do in order to improve the health of your heart and they're a lot easier than you might think!
The Causes of Heart Disease
There are two different types of risk factors that lead to heart disease: risk factors you can control and those you can't. You can be predisposed to heart disease through genetics or age. For women, being over 55 is a risk factor, while it's age 45 for men.
The risk factors you can control are lifestyle related. Eating right, quitting smoking, lowering your cholesterol, and having high blood pressure are all factors you have an impact on through the choices you make in your everyday life.
Strategies to Protect Your Heart
The key to caring for your heart and improving its health is to form a lifestyle that supports heart health. You can decrease your risk of developing heart disease by:
- Exercising - There's a reason while you're told that exercise is one of the cornerstones to a healthy lifestyle. When you stay active you strengthen your entire cardiovascular system. So work some cardiovascular exercises as well as strength training into your routine.
- Eat more plants - Cutting down on meat consumption has a great impact on the health of your heart. Plant-based diets are high in antioxidants and other nutrients that help to boost heart health. Try cutting out meat a couple of meals a week and you can make a big difference.
- Drink coffee - This doesn't mean you need to stop by the local Starbucks for a venti frap each day. What it does mean is that a few cups of java every day can help to boost your heart health on a cellular level.
- Practice mindfulness - Stress is tough on your heart, so try working some mindfulness or meditation into your day. It helps to relax you and can lower your resting heart rate as well as your blood pressure.
You only get one heart and it has to last a lifetime, so take care of it!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Englewood, Colo.