It’s no exaggeration to say that your heart is at the center of your health, which makes it a great place to start if you want to improve your overall wellness in the new year.
Unfortunately, the collective cardiovascular health in the United States is headed in the wrong direction. Currently, heart disease is already the leading cause of death in the US, and the American Heart Association reports that, by 2035, about 45% of adults in the US will be living with cardiovascular disease.
Here at Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists, our team of heart health experts wants to look at this growing problem from a more positive angle — 90% of heart disease is preventable. With that in mind, we want to provide you with a few simple strategies you can start today to improve your cardiovascular health.
Before we dive into our simple heart health tips, it’s important that we paint the bigger picture. The biggest and most preventable risk factors for heart disease include poor diet, obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise.
We understand that addressing these are tall orders and easier said than done, which is why we are presenting smaller steps below, all of which will contribute to improving these larger risk factors — except for smoking. If you smoke, we strongly urge you to make this year the one in which you quit.
Now let’s get into our actionable list of heart health strategies you can implement today.
A great way to sneak in some exercise is to skip the escalator or elevator and take the stairs if you’re only going up or down a floor or two.
To begin to make healthy changes to your diet, do it one snack or meal at a time. For example, start by skipping the bag of chips and go for a handful of nuts, carrot sticks, or celery instead.
Many people drink their calories in the form of sugar-filled sodas or cream- and sugar-filled coffee additives (think lattes). Cutting out just one of these drinks each day can make a difference in improving your cardiovascular health.
If you get out and take a walk with a friend, you’re improving your heart and overall health in two ways: First, you’re getting some exercise. Second, walking and talking with a friend can relieve stress and improve your mood.
It’s important that you sleep well at night as your heart uses this time to slow down and rest, too. Ensure you’re getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night. If you’re having trouble with sleep, treat yourself to a comfortable mattress and pillow, and be sure to stick to a good routine — go to bed at the same time and don’t bring screens into bed. You can also try sleep meditations that can calm your anxious mind and relax your body for sleep.
Many potentially serious heart health issues often don’t have any symptoms, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and mild arrhythmias. If you want to improve your heart health, it’s critical to understand where you are now, which can guide you moving forward.
So, please come see us for complete cardiovascular evaluation so that we can create a starting point. From there, we can make a targeted plan that will address your unique heart health needs.
To get that ball rolling, please contact our office in Mountain View, California, to schedule a consultation with one of our heart health experts.
