It’s Time to Focus on your Heart Health
It’s an invisible facet of the aging process but more critically linked to maintaining health and functionality: heart health. From infancy to adulthood, your heart continues to be your body’s most complex working muscle. Therefore, it is essential to provide the attention and care it needs. Also, when your heart is healthy, all aspects of your physical health should be too.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, nearly 650,000 Americans die from heart disease yearly. The impact of heart disease cannot be ignored. According to Dr. Khalid Chaudhry, Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Summerlin Hospital, one in three American adults will have some form of cardiovascular disease in their lives, and two in three men and one in two women will experience a cardiovascular condition. While people 65 years or older are more likely to experience heart complications, much can be done to maximize heart health, including physical fitness, a healthy diet and quality sleep.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when focusing on your heart health:
Physical Health
- Complete regular recommended health screenings
- Manage chronic conditions appropriately (exceptionally high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes)
- Get regular exercise
- Practice relaxation strategies to manage stress
- Don’t smoke
Healthy Diet
- Eat a well-rounded, predominantly whole foods diet, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limit solid fats, sugar, alcohol and salt
- Drink plenty of water
Quality Sleep
- Get seven to eight hours of quality sleep a night
- Address any sleep problems early and aggressively with the help of your doctor
No matter how old or young you are, it is never a wrong time to give your heart the attention and care it needs to continue to be the epicenter of your health. Some risk factors may be unavoidable, but simple lifestyle changes can make a difference in caring for heart health and your total well-being daily.
Do you have additional questions about supporting your or your organization’s heart health, physical well-being or overall well-being? Our Shepherd Insurance Employee Benefits team is here to help! Contact us today for more information.
