How To Take Care Of Your Heart As You Age
In this article, you’ll learn and discover how to take care of your heart as you age.
There’s a common misconception that heart problems are inevitable as we grow older when this isn’t always the case, and there are plenty of ways to keep your heart healthy as you age. It’s just a case of being mindful of what it takes to do so, that’s all.
However, it is true that one of the main threats to senior health is heart disease. Did you know that 85% of seniors die of heart disease? It’s scary the number of people who die from heart disease, especially as a high number of people don’t know what heart disease even is. Heart disease is the umbrella term which is given to a group of different heart issues, one of the most common of which is coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease is often responsible for heart attacks, heart failure, and irregular heartbeats, in addition to various other heart problems.
However, although heart disease risks do increase as you age, that doesn’t have to mean that you will go on to develop this disease. The right lifestyle habits combined with making healthy choices for your heart health can help. Wondering what these lifestyle habits should be? Below is a guide to the best habits that you can create to aid your heart health in old age.
Get plenty of exercise
If you are going to look after your health, then it’s vital that you understand the importance of remaining active. Despite the fact that when you get older, your joints and bones become more prone to injuries, and your body requires less exercise to stay in shape, it’s still important to exercise regularly. As a rule of thumb, everyone of any age should aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. It can be walking, swimming, or even practicing yoga – it doesn’t matter how you exercise, just as long as you make time to do so.
Eat smart
When it comes to heart health, it’s vital that you are smart about what you eat, because the foods that you eat can have a huge impact on the health of your heart. It can lead to problems like high cholesterol which makes heart disease more likely. It’s also vital to eat a diet that’s rich in a wide range of healthy foods and packed full of vitamins and minerals. If you aren’t getting enough vitamins through your diet, you can always give your vitamin intake a boost by purchasing vitamins and supplements – you can shop now online and pick up what you need.
Quit smoking
Did you know that smoking doubles your risk of heart disease? So, if you smoke, now is the time to quit. Studies have shown that when it comes to heart health, smoking is incredibly detrimental to it. Smoking impacts the vessels that link to your heart and other parts of your body. When you smoke, you are effectively reducing the amount of oxygen that is in your blood, which can then cause damage to the walls of the blood vessels. It can also contribute to atherosclerosis, a condition that causes your arteries to narrow and become blocked, which reduces blood supply and the amount of oxygen that your body gets.
When it comes to heart health, the earlier you start taking steps to look after your heart, the better. However, what it’s important to remember is that it’s never too late to start looking after your heart.
