Beat It: How To Fend Off Heart Disease

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Heart disease is the world’s biggest killer. While genetics and other conditions may put you at risk of heart disease, it is often a condition that can be prevented through lifestyle choices. Below is a guide to some of the different ways in which you can fend off heart disease.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a range of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels. It is usually when the heart becomes damaged or weak as a result of an irregular heart beat, a lack of blood flow or a lack of oxygen. Blockages to the heart – caused by a collapsed blood vessel or fat deposits – are a common cause.

If you or someone you know has heart disease, it could be vital that lifestyle changes are made. Medication may also be prescribed and in some cases surgery may be required. If such a condition is not managed, it could result in a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Online BLS courses can help you to save someone having a heart attack or cardiac arrest – reacting fast is often key to saving a person’s life (especially in the case of a cardiac arrest).

7 Ways to prevent heart disease:

Manage chronic stress

If you are constantly stressed, you are likely to have high blood pressure. This can wear out the heart and blood vessels over time and lead to heart disease. Take steps to reduce and relieve stress in your life.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight puts strain on the heart – the heart has to work harder to supply the entire body with blood. Excess fat also builds up inside your arteries, which can lead to blockages if you don’t take steps to start burning fat. There are many different weight loss approaches that you can try.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise doesn’t just prevent fat build-up, but can also strengthen the heart muscle and reduce your resting blood pressure level. The best type of exercise for your heart is aerobic exercises (often known as cardio exercise), which includes activities like running and swimming and cycling.

Get your fix of omega-3

Omega-3 helps to lower blood pressure, remove fatty deposits from blood vessels and strengthen the heart. This nutrient is most commonly found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, but can also be found in many nuts and seeds. On top of incorporating it into your diet, you can also take supplements.

Don’t skimp on sleep

Lack of sleep increases blood pressure and puts you at higher risk of developing heart disease. Make sure that you are getting a healthy amount of sleep each night – don’t burn the candle at both ends, and take steps to treat insomnia.

Quit smoking

Smoking damages the lining of arteries, thickens the blood and reduces the flow of oxygen to the heart. If you are a smoker, taking steps to quit smoking could prevent you from developing heart disease later in life.

Drink alcohol in moderation

Heavy drinking leads to increased blood pressure and can also put you at risk of developing heart disease. By drinking in moderation, you could potentially ward off heart disease.