Heart problems don’t discriminate. Whether you’re male, female, young or old – you have every chance of developing heart problems. Sure, the risk is higher for some but at the end of the day, heart problems is a risk every person goes through. To lower the risk however, here are some tips that might help.
Develop Good Oral Hygiene
Studies have shown that people with gum disease are also more likely to develop heart problems. Now, correlation doesn’t always mean causation but in this case – there’s a good link between the two. Bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum problems can easily travel to the heart and is known for triggering inflammation of the blood vessels. Simply put, bad teeth will increase your chances of a stroke or a heart attack.
Stay Away from Smokers
Smoking isn’t just bad for the lungs – it’s also bad for the heart. However, studies show that even inhaling smoke is bad enough – especially for the heart. A study by the American Heart Association suggests that secondhand smoke is responsible for around 34,000 premature heart disease deaths today, not to mention the 7,300 deaths by lung cancer. Even if you’re a non-smoker, you can suffer from heart problems with secondhand smoke especially if your cholesterol is high.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
The ideal time frame for sleep is 7 hours if you want to keep your heart healthy. Sure, you can go for the recommended 8 hours of sleep but try not to go below 7. Studies show that people who have less sleep per night have higher calcium buildup in their arteries. Calcium, when allowed to buildup overtime, can turn to a full-fledged heart disease.
Walk Around During the Day
It doesn’t matter if you do lots of pushups or pull-ups to compensate for your desk job because studies show that for better heart health – you actually have to be on your feet. This means walking around, jogging or running – depending on your personal pleasure. Being up on your feet stimulates blood flow and lessens the likelihood of a deep vein thrombosis. You don’t even have to set aside a specific time for it. Instead, just choose the stairs over the elevator or park in the lot farther from the office.
Choose a Good Heart Doctor
You’ll find lots of doctors specializing in cardiology which should help you get started with the search. A heart doctor may become necessary when you hit the age of 50 or 55. If you also suffer from high blood pressure in your 30s, then it’s a good idea to visit a cardiologist even before you hit 35 or 40. This is because high blood pressure hits the heart the hardest, often causing problems with the heart muscle that leads to a heart attack. Your primary physician should give the go signal or refer you to a cardiologist who will better handle your problem.
Of course, those are just some things to keep in mind in order to keep your heart healthy. Remember that by going through the healthy diet and exercise route – you’re not just taking care of your heart but your whole body as well.
