Emotional Care For The Heart

The Valentine month, February, also marks the American Heart Month in the United States...

Thursday May 4, 2017

The Valentine month, February, also marks the American Heart Month in the United States, observed nationwide to promote and propagate wellness of the heart. Heart disease is the most common cause of death among men and women. Data of the National Centre for Health Statistics reveal that 1 out of 4 deaths in the States are caused by heart ailments and strokes. The federally designated observance of the American Heart Month, thus, is a strong revelation for people to be more proactive towards taking care of their heart.

While heart disease being the leading cause of death is alarming, what’s positive is that it is largely preventable. There comes in our responsibility to take every small action towards adopting a healthy lifestyle and a lifetime of good heart health.

A Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is an essential prerequisite to a healthy heart and a healthy life. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. Go low on trans-fat and saturated fat and high on fibre to prevent excess cholesterol. Limit salt consumption to prevent high blood pressure, and limit sugar to prevent or help control diabetes.

More Exercise

Allot a good amount of time to physical activity in your daily schedule. Engage yourself in brisk walking, cycling and swimming. Such exercise helps control the blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels and maintains a healthy weight. Go for a Body Mass Index (BMI) test and check if your body weight falls in the healthy range. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of heart disease.

Limit Substances

Cigarette smoking marginally elevates your vulnerability to heart ailments, while excess alcohol leads to excess blood pressure. Work towards nicotine cessation to safeguard your health. Also, reduce the consumption of alcohol to protect your heart.

Spread The Word

Involve your society, community, and family in healthy living. Urge them to make small changes, like seasoning their food using spices instead of salt. You can also motivate teachers to make physical activity a part of daily school and ask healthcare professionals to educate their locals on preventing heart disease.

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