The heart is your body’s workhorse, pumping nonstop to keep you alive and kicking. Keeping it in excellent condition, however, becomes increasingly difficult as you get older and fall into a few bad habits like smoking and drinking. Keep your ticker in tip-top shape and avoid life-threatening heart diseases with some cardiac care tips for you to practice every day.

How to Improve Your Heart Health

1. Eat Healthily

Start showing love to your heart with a few healthy eating habits, such as favoring fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean protein over fast foods and processed products. Cut back on saturated fats found in meat and dairy and forego trans fats altogether (the latter is often disguised as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated in the ingredients list). You should cut down sugar and salt intake as well, so avoid eating foods high in sodium content.

2. Get Enough Sleep

There have been studies about the correlation of sleep duration and calcium buildup in the arteries, which is a precursor for heart disease. Based on findings, those who slept for fewer than six hours or more than nine hours are more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack than others who get shuteye of about seven to eight hours. 

3. Stay Active

Make daily workouts part of your cardiac care routine by doing at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise. Take a brisk walk or lift lighter objects until you can move on to heavier weights. But just because you’re exercising, it doesn’t mean you can be sedentary for the rest of the day. Prolonged periods of sitting increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases.

4. Avoid Bad Habits

Smoking and secondhand smoke increase the risk of developing heart diseases, on top of lung illnesses. Toxic chemicals from the smoke, including e-cigarettes, result in plaque buildup in the arteries. Kick the habit and try to limit alcohol intake as well. Cut down on consuming processed foods and sugary beverages that contain too many calories—these are also considered bad habits.

5. Steer Clear of Stress

As much as possible, refrain from stressing yourself out with the littlest of things. Anger and worry contribute to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Instead, find ways to relax, breathe deeply, and be grateful for blessings as part of your cardiac care. Being positive is good for both the heart and mind.

It takes just a few lifestyle changes to achieve better heart health. For quality cardiac care, let the team at DiVagno Interventional Cardiology, MD, PA, of Rochelle Park, NJ, provide assistance. With leading heart doctor Dr. Leonard DiVagno at the helm, they specialize in cardiac screening and interventions, among other services. Call (201) 845-3535 to schedule an appointment or visit their website for more information.