It isn’t enough to just be aware of the risk factors for heart disease that you might possess. An active effort needs to be made in order to ensure that our hearts health is always a priority. Some ways in which we can maintain our heart health are:
- Stop smoking: Tobacco smoking directly increases your blood pressure, thereby putting you at a greater risk for heart diseases and stroke. If you are a smoker already, speak to your doctor in ways in which you can completely kick the habit.
- Manage your cholesterol: Make sure that your HDL (good cholesterol) levels are healthy, while your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels are kept low. LDL causes fat buildup in the body and can lead to the blocking of arteries, thereby resulting in a heart attack. If you see an increase in your LDL levels, take the necessary steps to bring the value down.
- Manage your diabetes: If you are a patient with diabetes it becomes paramount for you to maintain your diabetes in order to prevent the buildup of high glucose levels that damage the arteries. Make sure that you regularly take your prescribed medicine, and get regular check up’s with your doctor every 3 months.
- Control your blood pressure: A high blood pressure is one of the major causes of heart disease. In order to reduce your risk for heart diseases, it is imperative to control your blood pressure. The first step in doing this is to get your blood pressure checked regularly – at least once a year, and then introduce lifestyle changes that reduce stress and anxiety.
- Perform regular physical exercise: Regular physical exercise helps strengthen the heart and its muscles, and also improves the flow of blood to other parts of your body. Doctors recommend getting 180 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a result of the accumulation of fat in the body. These fat cells can increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke by blocking arterial passageways. Maintain a healthy weight by exercising and having a balanced diet devoid of excessive junk food and processed foods.
- Ensure that you have a balanced and nutritious diet: Having a balanced and healthy diet is one of the easiest lifestyle changes you can make in order to preserve your heart’s health. Such a diet would include a balance between proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fruits and vegetables.
Specialist Cardiologist
Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai
Specialist Cardiologist
Aster Clinic, Muteena
