The condition of your heart determines your overall health. A healthy heart will allow you to enjoy a long life. Dietary and lifestyle habits play especially significant factors in reducing your risk of disease and contributing to better cardiovascular health. Here are some basic do’s and don’ts heart doctors recommend.

Do:

Consume healthy foods.

Eating a healthy diet is vital to your overall health. But consuming fewer saturated fats by limiting your intake of high-fat meat and dairy products, in particular, will benefit your heart.

Avoid consuming excessive sodium, especially if you suffer from high blood pressure. Heart doctors also recommend increasing your fiber intake by adding more legumes, vegetables, and whole grains to your eating plan.

Get regular exercise.

Exercising regularly benefits your heart in several key ways. By reducing your heart rate, it can minimize your blood pressure, which in turn can lower your risk of heart disease. It also helps you control your weight, which is critical in managing heart concerns and reducing stress on the heart. By adding aerobic workouts to your routine, you’ll strengthen your heart muscle so that it works more efficiently.

Don’t:

Live a sedentary lifestyle.

Heart doctors warn that too much sitting can be harmful to your health, largely because it fosters bad habits that prevent you from getting the regular exercise that you need. Remaining inactive for extended periods increases your risk of developing heart disease and suffering from conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and deep-vein thrombosis.

Neglect dental health.

Your oral health plays just as significant a role in the condition of your heart. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is critical, as the presence of gum disease has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Poor oral health habits also increase your risk of developing bacterial infections that may enter the bloodstream and ultimately affect the heart. Brush and floss regularly, and see your dentist at least twice a year.
 

Are you concerned about your heart health? You can trust in the heart doctors at DiVagno Interventional Cardiology, MD, PA, in Rochelle Park, NJ, to assist you every step of the way. They provide cardiac testing and screening, and treat everything from chest pain to high blood pressure. Visit them online for more information or call (201) 845-3535 to speak with a representative.