How to protect yourself against heart disease. Diet information as well as exercise.
Heart disease is among the number one killers of men and women in the United States. It can result in heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and many other health problems. It involves the blocking, either partial or total, of the arteries that lead to the human heart. But, you can help to protect yourself from heart disease by following these simple health tips:
Tip 1- Do not smoke. Smoking constricts the blood vessels. This makes the heart work harder in order to keep the blood flowing throughout your entire body. Smoking also puts a number of toxins into your blood stream too. It sends carbon monoxide into your body which helps to rob your heart as well as other organs from getting the oxygen your heart and organs need to work correctly. These toxins and the effect that smoking has on the arteries helps to contribute to heart disease a lot.
Tip 2- Get plenty of regular exercise. Exercises such as walking, jogging or running have been proven to reduce the chances of getting heart disease. Aerobic exercises help the heart, lungs, and other body organs get more oxygen and blood to them. It has also been found that proper exercise helps to rid the body of the amount of toxins that it has in it. And, this is a good thing for your heart, as well as the rest of your bodily functions. Be sure to speak with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
Tip 3- Eat right. Lower or eliminate your intake of red meat and fats in your diet. This includes fatty foods such as whole milk, dairy products, potato chips, rich gravies, and the like. These foods can and do raise your bad cholesterol level. Switch to skim milk, eat lean meats, and just do without the chips and the other junk foods that you just do not need for good health. Put more fresh vegetables and fresh fruit into your daily diet. Eat plenty of fiber which has been shown to help in reducing the bad blood cholesterol level.
Tip 4- Have your blood cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in your bloodstream. This substance can build-up along the artery walls in your heart. This build-up makes your arteries smaller in size and in being smaller, it restricts the normal flow of blood and oxygen that can get to your heart. Without enough oxygen, as well as blood,your heart will become damaged and not work properly. Or, if an artery becomes totally blocked, or if a blood clot forms in an artery or in your heart muscle, you can very well have a heart attack. This disease is known as heart disease or atherosclerosis. If your blood cholesterol is below two hundred, then it is at a good level. If it is above that, your doctor should put you on medication that will help to reduce your bad cholesterol level.
Tip 5- Control your body weight. Experts recommend that every person keeps their body weight within ten pounds of your ideal weight, depending on your height and bone structure. Excess weight puts an added strain on your heart and other organs.
If you follow these simple tips, you too can help your heart remain healthy and in good shape.
