Neglecting your heart health can lead to all sorts of trouble as you age, so it’s very important that you take it seriously. Most people think that maintaining a healthy heart is all about eating well and exercising, but there are actually quite a few other things which you should pay attention to if you’re serious about having a healthy heart.
Without further ado, let’s dive into our list of 5 tips for a healthy heart.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is crucial to the healthy functioning of our bodies in almost every single aspect – and heart health is no exception. Failing to get enough shuteye on a consistent basis can put added strain on your heart and will leave you at a greater risk of suffering from heart disease, potentially even at quite a young age.
So, it’s very important than you get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. If you have insomnia or another ailment which impacts your ability to fall asleep, you should try to get it treated as soon as possible, as such conditions can have profound implications if left untreated in the long term.
Note: When we don’t get enough sleep, it can begin to affect us in unpleasant ways. It can be tempting to deal with the issue via prescription drugs or over the counter sleep aids. These temporary solutions come with their own set of unpleasant side effects. We suggest, if you need help with sleep, that you check out CBN, aka Cannabinol. Derived from hemp, it will not get you high but it will help you relax to the point where falling and staying asleep is much easier.
Avoid Trans Fats For a Healthy Heart
Contrary to what many people think, not all fats are bad. In fact, we all need a certain amount of fats in our diet as they are used by our bodies for growth and repair.
However, you should avoid trans fats as much as you can, as these fats are very harmful to our bodies, particularly our heart health. Eating lots of trans fats can result in fat clogging your arteries and restricting the flow of blood to and from your heart, putting you at a greater risk of developing serious cardiovascular conditions.
Pay Attention to Your Dental Hygiene
Dental hygiene may seem completely unrelated to your cardiovascular health and wellbeing, but there can sometimes be a correlation between the two. For example, some studies have suggested that the bacteria associated with gum disease can enter your bloodstream and potentially put you at a greater risk of having a stroke or developing heart disease.
So, it’s important that you pay attention to your dental hygiene. You should brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly.
Don’t Smoke
The adverse health effects of smoking are well documented and well known, but in addition to not smoking, it’s also very important to avoid second-hand smoke. So, you shouldn’t let friends or family smoke in your home or car, for example.
Avoid Staying Still For Too Long
Studies have found staying seated for a long period of time to negatively impact your cardiovascular health, irrespective of how much exercise you do. This is because staying seated can restrict the flow of blood within your body.
For those of us who work at our desks for long hours, it may seem impossible to avoid this. But, there are things you can do, such as standing up very briefly a few times per day and moving your legs around while seated.
A Quick Summary
- There’s more to maintaining good heart health than just eating well and exercising.
- Paying attention to your dental hygiene and health, sleeping well, and not smoking are also very important.
- If you pay attention to all of these things you can greatly reduce your chances of developing a cardiovascular condition.