Heart health is important at any age. Heart disease is a term associated with those that are middle-aged or older; rarely is it ever associated with a young person. Many of the risk factors for heart disease are contributors due to an illness or bad habit. They are all preventable. We can avoid each and every one of these if we have the willpower. Here are the most common heart disease risk factors. Use these as fuel to better your health.
First, too little exercise invites heart disease. How often do you exercise? Most doctors will encourage you to exercise at least 30 minutes every day. By no means does this have to include a gym membership. Go outdoors and walk or run. Go for a bike ride, go fishing or go swimming. If you do have a gym membership, make the most of it. Alternate cardio and strength-training. Take advantage of every machine they have in the building. You have to keep your heart strong and healthy. If you need a trainer then get a trainer, but get it done.
An unhealthy diet is also a contributing factor. Think about how much you eat out at restaurants. Now, how much of that is fast food restaurants? Do yourself a favor and cut out fast food altogether. In fact, you need to stop eating a high fat and high sugar diet. Cut out drinking soda and energy drinks. Instead, switch to a high protein diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. It’s going to energize you and give you the ambition to get things done. Start drinking water, tea, and coffee. It’s going to be a game changer for you; you’re going to find that you drop weight and have a positive new outlook on life.
Similarly, being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It’s important to realize that not all those individuals who are overweight have poor diets or exercise. Some have medically-related conditions, which in turns makes them gain weight as an effect of the condition. But at the same time, this makes their risk for heart disease much higher. If you’re the latter, it’s important to work with your doctor. Get on a diet and exercise plan that best suits you. You want to make sure your heart is healthy while you have the condition.
Smoking is also a high-risk factor for heart disease. More than two million people die each year in the United States due to heart disease deaths impacted by smoking. When you’re a smoker, fat builds up quicker around the heart’s arteries which make it more likely for a heart attack. It also affects every organ within the body. It also makes you more likely to experience blood clots. This is because the nicotine in cigarettes makes your blood sticky. It makes it more of a challenge to move throughout the blood vessels.
Finally, an individual is more at risk if heart disease is in their family. There are two ways this could happen. You could have a history of early heart disease throughout your family line, anything from heart attacks or coronary heart disease. Or, you could have a history or preeclampsia during pregnancy. This is where the mother-to-be’s blood pressure spikes prior to delivering her baby. Both of these are risk factors for heart disease and make your risk of encountering it much higher. Do your best to stay away from these risk factors and keep your heart healthy; it’s worth it. editor@urbanmediatoday.com