February is the month of love. It is also the month that is set aside to raise awareness about heart disease. Heart disease kills over 500,000 people in America each year. The good news is that a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce one’s chances of developing heart disease. In fact, some studies suggest that a healthy lifestyle may reduce one’s chances of developing heart disease by up to 82 percent. Below are some tips that will help drastically cut your risk of developing heart disease:
Exercise
Exercise is something that over half of Americans do not engage in on a regular basis. However, it is one of the most important things that people can do to keep their heart healthy. Regular exercise helps manage weight, reduce blood pressure and lower cholesterol. It also helps increase energy and manage stress.
Do Not Smoke
You have probably heard this a million times before, but smoking is very bad. It causes your blood vessels to constrict, which puts extra pressure on your heart. That is why you should avoid smoking. Furthermore, if you inhale the secondhand smoke of people around you, then you could also be damaging your heart.
Eat Healthy
The importance of good nutrition cannot be emphasized enough. There has been evidence to suggest that fiber-rich diets can cut one’s risk of developing heart disease. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are fiber-rich foods. The average adult needs to get between 25 and 30 grams of fiber every day. Furthermore, you should eat two servings of fish every week. Fish contains omega 3 fatty acids, which have a protective effect against heart disease. Walnuts, grass-fed beef and flaxseeds are other foods that are great sources of the heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
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