Lifestyle Changes To Improve Heart Health

American Heart Month is here, so it’s no surprise that we're discussing important ways to keep this vital organ healthy and functioning at its best all year long. Your daily choices can influence whether you maintain a healthy heart, mind and body or develop conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and more. Good health is complex, and it’s more than just eating your fruits and vegetables or exercising consistently. Making small lifestyle choices can help you live longer with more energy and focus.

It’s always a good time to adopt healthy habits, and what better time than the present to become more conscious of your heart health and start intentionally improving your lifestyle? Here are a couple of tips to help get you started.

Move your body.

We all face times when we struggle to find the perfect balance between the responsibility to move our bodies and the desire for relaxation. Spending too much of your day sitting on the couch can put you at risk for developing heart disease. If you don’t currently have a workout plan in place, start small by going for a walk every day. As an aerobic exercise, walking requires you to take in more oxygen and increase your blood flow, allowing your lungs, heart and muscles to functions properly and efficiently. It’s one of the easiest physical activities you can do to strengthen your heart and get your body moving.

Watch what you eat.

The foods you eat play a huge role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eating foods that are high in saturated fats, like processed meats, desserts and margarine, can cause weight gain and high cholesterol, increasing your risk of developing heart disease. To prevent or manage high cholesterol, try to avoid processed and sugary foods. Instead, focus on supplementing your diet with foods that can benefit your heart, such as leafy greens, berries, nuts, beans, chia and flax seeds, and foods high in omega-3 and fiber.

Manage your stress.

Stress is a normal part of life and can be caused by several different things, including not getting enough sleep, illness, or simply managing everyday obligations and pressures that make you feel like you’re not in control. Constant stress can take a toll on your heart and overall health, putting you at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Getting fresh air and moving your body with walks and exercise, confiding in a loved one, or seeking treatment for constant feelings of depression or anxiety can help you better manage difficult situations and deal with stress.

Try these tips to have a healthy American Heart Month to make your ticker the strongest it can be!