Heart disease is the main cause of death in the United States today. We spend our lives worrying about car accidents, mass shootings, murders, etc., when in fact the biggest risk of death is inside us. This data is alarming, but the good news is there are things you can do to help prevent heart conditions such as stroke or cardiac arrest.
Did you know your lifestyle has a great influence on your heart? Many people don’t realize how much is in their hands when it comes to preventing disease and staying healthy. We hope this article will help you see that and convince you to take the necessary steps to take good care of your heart.
How can I protect my cardiac health?
There are many things you can do to help prevent cardiovascular (heart) diseases. The list includes:
- Take care of your overall health. Know the risks. Watch the symptoms. And most importantly, schedule regular checkups at your doctor’s office.
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, if possible. If your friend is heading out for a smoke break, it’s OK not to join her. It’s your life we’re talking about.
- Check your blood pressure regularly. The norm is 120/80. Anything higher than that can indicate that something’s wrong.
- Check your cholesterol. Aim for no higher than 200 mg/dL. The lower your LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol levels) and the higher your HDL (‘good’ cholesterol levels’) within that number, the better.
- Maintain a healthy diet. Limit foods rich in trans fats as they can increase the ‘bad’ cholesterol. Added sugar is to be limited or avoided as much as possible. The subject of diet is too big and too important to summarize it in one sentence, so we will be featuring it in one of our next articles – stay tuned!
- Exercise daily. Cardio exercise is called that for a reason 🙂 Walking and swimming are the best possible exercise for your heart, so aim to do them a few times a week!
- Manage your stress. Stress causes cortisol (stress hormone) to rise which subsequently increases the risk of a heart attack. Avoid situations that aggravate, anger, or upset you. Plus, look into stress management activities, such as yoga, meditation, or even a desktop punching bag – whatever works for you! 🙂
But remember: The absolute best thing you can do for your heart (and your overall health!) is to see your doctor once in a while. Prevention is so much easier than treatment! We encourage you to visit our Medical Center in Hialeah and talk to our doctor about a EKG test – it can literally save your life.
Do you have questions or would you like to schedule an appointment at Rite Care Urgent Care Medical Center – your Medical Center in Hialeah? We are here for you! Please don’t hesitate to call us directly at (305) 200-1225 or visit our website: www.ritecaremc.com
We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
