subject: How to Look After Your Heart [print this page] How to Look After Your Heart How to Look After Your Heart
Your heart does one of the hardest jobs in your body. It pumps blood from your toes right to your heart, sending oxygen and nutrients to help you function every day. If you don't look after your heart, like any other muscle, it can become weak. And that can be disastrous for your health.
Many factors can contribute to heart disease, including smoking, heavy drinking, a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight. Some ethnicities also have a higher risk of heart disease. While you can't help what family and ethnicity you were born into, you can do a lot to decrease your risk of heart disease.
One of the best ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease is through improving your diet and exercise. Eating a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables and heart-healthy foods low in salt, fat and oil will go a long way toward protecting your heart from disease.
When you lift weights, you exercise your muscles and make them stronger. Cardiovascular exercise works your heart and makes it stronger. 30 minutes of cardio exercise every day can undo years of damage caused by a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet.
You can start slowly, by getting off the bus one stop early and walking to work, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or taking a walk during your lunch break.
Involve your whole family in getting heart-healthy by taking a walk or bike ride around your neighbourhood after work. You could also join a local sports club, or sign up for the gym. But remember signing up isn't enough. You have to actually go and exercise!
If you have not exercised much in the last few years, or you have a prior illness or need to use specialized medical supplies, it may be wise to talk to your GP about choosing the best exercise regeime for you.
If you experience any of the symptoms associated with heart disease breathlessness, swelling in ankles and feet, tingling along arms and legs (especially if it's only on one side of your body) and fatigue see your doctor immediately.
Getting heart-healthy isn't easy, but it's the best thing you could ever do for your health and your family.
