Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Americans. While modern medicine has made it possible to live longer, our hearts were not necessarily built to last forever. There are some things that we can do to help prevent heart disease and keep our hearts pumping for as long as possible. Your family and loved ones want you to be around for them, and that is worth making any sacrifice in lifestyle. The following things are proven to help with overall cardiovascular health.
IV Treatment
This approach is new and therefore less common, but has been shown to promote better cardiovascular health. A concentrated dose of nutrients benefits heart health especially for those who are lacking in ability to absorb nutrients due to digestive issues. Studies have also shown a decrease in atrial fibrillation with magnesium IV nutritional therapy, which can also help decrease stress.
Stress Management
Stress on the body puts stress on all of its systems including the heart. Stress can increase blood pressure. Hypertension will deplete overall cardiovascular health and inflate your chances of developing other diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Stress can actually cause arrhythmias in the heart making it beat out of rhythm. To manage stress, consider meditation, sleep habits and hygiene, and making time for hobbies. Never be afraid to seek medical help from someone like a psychiatrist.
Evaluate Habits
There are many bad habits. We all have them, and we all have our favorite ones. When it comes to heart disease in particular, smoking is a huge issue. Nicotine in cigarettes causes plaque build up in blood vessels. Eventually the plaque will build up so much that there will barely be room for blood to get to the heart. The ingredients in cigarettes also cause blood composition to change and thicken, making it even more of a challenge to pump blood through the body and especially to the heart. The good news is that quitting smoking is the most instantaneous way to lower risk of heart disease.
Diet
When a doctor mentions diet and exercise most people roll their eyes. However, it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Even making small changes to your diet can help a lot when it comes to your heart health. Nutrition shouldn’t be about excluding foods as much as it should be about adding more nutrient dense options to each meal that you eat. Give your body foods that it can use to strengthen itself.
Exercise
Again, don’t feel like you need to join a gym and start doing extreme workouts multiple hours a day. Start small and make goals that are within reach and fit your lifestyle. While it seems contradictory, adding exercise to your daily routine can actually boost your cardiovascular health because the heart is a muscle that needs to be used in order to be strengthened.
Consult a Doctor
Always consult a doctor before making any changes. A doctor will know if you need medications prescribed to manage a heart condition. They will also be able to guide you in the best course of action according to your personal health history.
