World Heart Day: Simple Lifestyle Changes for a Healthy Heart

Cardiac Sciences | Posted on 10/01/2024 by Dr. Amit Gupta

We passionately follow our heart’s desires when it comes to eating fast foods, smoking cigarettes, drinking aerated drinks, consuming alcohol, or following an unhealthy lifestyle. But when it comes to our heart health, we ignore it grossly. This is not just true for you, but all of us.

But did you know? By slightly adjusting your lifestyle, you can keep your heart healthy and happy as ever.

Are you worried about your heart health? Do you want simple life hacks that help you keep your heart in optimal health and function at its best? If your answer is yes. You have come to the right place. Keep reading. But if you are facing any severe heart related issue feel free to contact our best cardiologist at RBH, Jaipur

Importance of Taking Care of Your Heart

The heart is the core of everything that keeps you alive. A healthy heart means a happy beat. Taking care of your heart is essential for your heart and overall well-being.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. More than 2.5 crore people died from CVs in 2021.

Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and blood vessels, leading to heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Therefore, taking good care of the heart becomes paramount.

Simple Lifestyle Changes For A Healthy Heart

The World Heart Federation states that almost 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease can be easily prevented by making small lifestyle changes such as what we eat, and drink, how much we exercise and how we manage stress.

Here are the simple lifestyle changes you can adopt to keep your heart happy and healthy:

1. Be Active: Physical activity and regular exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Being active can also reverse some risk factors such as obesity,diabetes, and high blood pressure.
2. Eat Healthy: A healthy diet can help you control your blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels, and weight. Add fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and protein sources to your diet.
3. Get Enough Sleep: Proper sleep is important, not just for the heart, but for your overall health and well-being. Aim to sleep for at least 7-8 hours every night and maintain the circadian rhythm.
4. Manage Blood Pressure: This is considered the major cause of heart problems. Blood pressure can be easily managed by adopting physical activity, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and limited salt intake.
5. Control Cholesterol: High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. After consulting an expert, make lifestyle changes that improve your cholesterol levels. Avoid smoking, alcohol consumption, processed and fast foods, manage stress and maintain your weight. 

Apart from all this, go for a Regular Heart Check-Up. With the help of regular heart check-ups, the doctor can monitor factors such as blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol profiles early. After that appropriate interventions can be implemented if needed. When you care for your heart, you care for everyone who has a place for you in their heart. Reach out to our experts for a cardiac consultation today (booking link)

FAQ

What are the early signs of heart disease?

Chest pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, slow or racing heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, fluttering in the chest, and fainting are some of the most common signs and symptoms of heart disease.

How can I lower my cholesterol naturally?

You can make certain lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol such as eating heart-healthy foods, regularly exercising and increasing your physical activity, quitting smoking and alcohol consumption, and losing weight.

What is a healthy heart rate?

60 to 100 beats per minute is considered a normal heart rate for an adult. However, it may vary from person to person as the general health of an individual can affect the pulse rate.

How much exercise is recommended for heart health?

150 minutes of moderate or intense aerobic exercise is recommended a week. However, if you are new to exercise, you are advised to start by doing 10 minutes each day and then increase the duration gradually.

What foods should I avoid to keep my heart healthy?

To keep your heart healthy, avoid fatty meats, alcohol, cigarettes, processed meats, high-fat dairy products, foods and beverages with preservatives and sugars, and foods high in sodium.

What is World Heart Day?

The World Heart Day is celebrated on 29th September every year. Various awareness activities and events are organised globally. "Use your heart for action" is the theme this year for World Heart Day. This theme aims to create a sense of urgency raising awareness about heart health and accelerating action to prevent, detect early, and manage cardiovascular diseases.

Why Is It Celebrated?

World Heart Federation, cardiologists and other health organisations focus on educating people about common signs and symptoms of cardiovascular diseases. On this occasion, people are encouraged to build a healthy lifestyle to prevent and control heart-related problems.