Give your heart some love this Valentine’s Day-7 tips for a healthier heart
Your heart is in your hands, give your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by following our tips for a healthy heart.
1. Schedule an annual Heart Health Check up
Each year schedule a check up to have your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels checked, and ask your doctor to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. Be sure to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations, including taking prescribed medications as directed
2. Drink more H20
Adequate hydration is not only good for your brain, your mood, and your body weight, but it's also essential for your heart. Your heart is constantly working, pumping blood around all day. By staying hydrated and drinking more water than you are losing – you are helping your heart do its job. Especially in the summer months when the weather is hot,hot,hot, remember to take a water bottle with you wherever you go.
3. Let’s get physical
Keeping active is a great way to look after your heart. Your heart is a muscle, and exercise helps make it stronger. A strong heart pumps blood more efficiently and delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your body.
4. Eat a balanced diet
Eating a varied diet of healthy foods can help with your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. Try to limit saturated fats, foods high in sodium, and added sugars. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
5. Control cholesterol
Eating foods high in saturated fat, trans fat or cholesterol can lead to high blood cholesterol which is not good for your heart. To help keep your cholesterol levels down, eat foods low in saturated fat and trans-fat, such as lean chicken or turkey (roasted or baked, with skin removed), fruits and veggies, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and whole grains.
6. Be strict on salt
To help lower high blood pressure, watch your salt intake. It may be disguised in food labels as sodium alginate, sodium sulphite, sodium caseinate, disodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or sodium citrate.
7. Be positive
We know that there can be a greater risk of heart disease for people who have depression, are socially isolated or do not have good social support. Having a good social life with family and friends can help.
Keep your ticker healthy and give it a bit of TLC this Valentine’s day.
Please see your GP if you have any concerns about your heart health today.
4 practices delivering ‘high quality health care’ across the Central Coast
www.tuggerahdoctors.com.au
