Better Heart Health
Preventing cardiovascular disease is a lot easier than you might think. While some heart diseases are hereditary, even those people who are prone to them can control the chances of heart disease striking by taking these simple steps to better heart health.
Diet and exercise are the main components to good cardiovascular strength. The heart is a muscle and the more you strengthen it, the better it can perform and continue its vital role. You do not even have to join expensive health clubs or make additional time to incorporate extra exercise into your life, although that’s always beneficial. Getting better cardiovascular function can be just a simple matter of doing the things you do in a more active manner. Taking stairs instead of elevators, parking further from entrances, and even just getting up during commercial breaks on television to walk around the house will keep your blood flowing and increase your heart health.
Changes in diet habits are an important part of strengthening your cardiovascular system. Diets high in fat have serious effects on the heart and circulatory system. Fats build up in the bloodstream and cause blockages that prevent smooth flow. High blood pressure happens when flow is restricted through a narrower opening. Just cutting out obvious fat content may not be enough. There are a lot of hidden fats in foods not easily associated with it. Dairy products have saturated fats and should be limited. Chicken is a great, heart healthy food, but the dark meat is fattier and should be avoided in the diets of those who are susceptible to heart disease.
Practicing Stress Relief for Better Heart Health
Stress restricts the blood vessels which in turn creates high blood pressure and strain on the heart. Exercise is good for stress relief, but may not be enough. Ease the stress in your life by taking the time to relax every day. A warm bath, soothing music or just 15 to 20 minutes of “quiet time” each day to relax can make a huge difference to your body.
Yoga and tai chi are great meditative exercises that can help you relieve stress and improve your heart health. There are many DVDs available to help you start a good yoga or tai chi exercise program. Taking a little time to improve your diet and move more can add years to your life and help you live better with a lower chance of heart disease.
