How to save your heart ❤️?

Heart diseases have become prevalent in recent days due to various factors. This may be due to lifestyle and diet taken by individuals, leading to comorbidities like obesity, hormone imbalance, and organ damage. The heart is the organ that keeps us alive by pumping the elixir of life—blood—all through our body. It’s important to protect such an important organ.

How to protect the heart?

Heart-friendly food

Diet is an important factor in regulating the heart. Fat-rich food may result in accumulation of plaque over the blood vessels, causing atherosclerosis in later stages, and then finally leads to heart block. Proper diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and legumes can help mitigate this. Heart-friendly diet includes:

• Whole grains

• Lean proteins

• Fruits and vegetables

• Less processed food

Regular exercise

Regular exercise may help improve the function of the heart by increasing the blood flow and increasing oxygen consumption and utilization of glucose. This causes rhythmic pumping of the heart, which leads to good heart health.

Monitoring blood pressure and lipids

Regular monitoring of the blood pressure is essential, as increased blood pressure may lead to heart issues at an earlier stage. Monitoring lipid profiles, especially HDL profiles, may be helpful in predicting the health of the heart.

Reduce stress

Stress is the major cause of pressure being applied on the heart. Reduce stress by meditation or diverting your focus to happier moments, which leads to a healthier heart.

Regulate your circadian rhythm

Your body clock makes sure to regulate your body by itself. Proper sleep-wake cycle may help regulate the hormonal balance of the body. Adequate rest may help improve the function of the heart and prevent diseases.

Limit smoking and alcohol

Smoking and alcohol are the culprits which may deteriorate the heart at a very fast rate. Smoking can cause decreased functioning of the lungs, which may decrease the oxygen exchange, while alcohol damages the liver, leading to imbalanced release of hormones. They ultimately affect the functioning of the heart.