6 Lifestyle Changes for Heart Health Improvement
Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States and has maintained its status at the top for a long time. Unfortunately, too often the effects of heart disease go undiagnosed or noticed until the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke are upon you. To combat this, learning how to protect heart health with a heart healthy lifestyle is immeasurably important.
Today, we’re taking a look at the importance of heart health as well as simple lifestyle changes for heart health improvement you can implement in your daily life. As with any changes in your health routine, be sure to discuss it with your doctor before you begin in order to ensure your new routine is safe for you.
The Importance of a Heart Healthy Lifestyle
Why is a heart healthy lifestyle important? Statistics show that nearly 1 in 5 deaths is caused by heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. While it’s not possible to circumvent every risk factor for heart disease, there are a plethora of lifestyle changes for heart health improvement you can do to not only improve heart health naturally but possibly even reverse damage your body has experienced up to now.
Not only does living a heart healthy lifestyle benefit your body against heart disease, but it may also help you avoid serious chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
Easy Lifestyle Changes for Heart Health
Now that we’ve talked about the importance of learning how to protect heart health, let’s take a look at how to put that into practice. There are a number of easy lifestyle changes for heart health improvement you can make without disrupting your routine. While it may take a concentrated effort, at first, over time these healthy habits will become the new normal for you and you’ll feel incredible!
A few easy lifestyle changes for heart health improvement include:
- Exercising regularly
- Eating a healthy diet
- Managing stress levels
- Practicing self-care
- Quitting smoking
- Getting enough sleep
Exercising Regularly to Protect Heart Health
It’s no secret, exercise helps you stay healthy! Exercising regularly and staying active not only contributes to how to protect heart health but it can also improve your mood, boost energy levels, and help build a strong immune system that keeps you healthy. Experts agree you should aim for 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times a week.
Exercising doesn’t mean you have to join a fancy gym or buy expensive equipment, however! Sure those are options if you’d like, but there are also a wide variety of options for exercising at home, too. From low-impact routines like yoga and tai chi to full body workout exercises you can do sitting in a luxury zero gravity chair, there’s an exercise option for anyone at any age or fitness level.
Note: Don’t forget your post workout recovery routine! Give your body the rest and recovery boost it needs to enhance how the body heals itself.
Eating a Healthy Diet
Next up on our list of easy lifestyle changes for heart health improvement, we’re looking at eating a healthy diet. Health food choices like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats are excellent choices for a heart healthy diet. Other anti-inflammatory foods like dark, leafy greens can have a positive impact on heart health, as well.
Part of eating a healthy diet as part of a heart healthy lifestyle is also knowing what to limit or cut out from your daily habits. For example, avoiding processed foods as much as possible is highly encouraged. It’s also important to limit your alcohol consumption, as overconsumption may have a negative impact on heart health.
Managing Stress Levels
No list of lifestyle changes for heart health improvement would be complete without talking about managing stress levels. Studies suggest that the long-term effects of stress on the body based on high levels of cortisol can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. These are all common factors contributing to heart disease and poor heart health. Managing stress may also help avoid poor dietary choices, aiding in fighting obesity and heart complications that could arise from a poor diet, as well.
Learning how to meditate at home or implementing a relaxing night time routine are popular methods for alleviating stress from the day. Calming breathing exercises are another set of our favorites when it comes to how to protect heart health, as well! These easy activities can be done in bed, in the car, or even while relaxing at home.
Practicing Self-Care
As we continue our exploration of lifestyle changes for heart health improvement, we’ve arrived at practicing self-care. Far more than vanity, self-care activities like getting a massage or using a heated zero gravity chair can have profound improvements on your heart health and overall well-being. Tools like zero gravity chairs with massage programs combine multiple methods for how to protect heart health and combine them into one incredible self-care experience.
Practicing other self-care activities like listening to relaxing music, journaling, or even using adult coloring books (they’re a thing!) are all lifestyle changes for heart health improvement you can make, too. You may be surprised, but even some of the simplest activities can have a positive impact on your overall heart health and boost your well-being.
Quitting Smoking
Perhaps the most commonly heard on this list of lifestyle changes for heart health improvement is to stop smoking. In addition to quitting smoking yourself, secondhand smoke can also be a contributor to heart disease, making a smoke-free environment a positive way for how to protect heart health in your entire household.
Getting Enough Sleep
According to statistics from the CDC, 1 in 3 adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep. This can have a negative impact on your heart health and put you at risk for complications from heart disease and other chronic illnesses. The body heals while you sleep, giving it time to relax and recharge for the day ahead.
One of the simplest lifestyle changes for heart health improvement you can make is implementing a relaxing night time routine each evening to unwind before bed. Whether it’s a warm bath, relaxing in a zero gravity chair, working on a puzzle, listening to music, or other activities like that, unplugging from electronics and letting your body relax is critical to restorative sleep.
As you can see, there are plenty of easy lifestyle changes for heart health improvement you can make without disrupting your daily routine. In fact, you may find that your new heart healthy lifestyle improves your routine, helping you feel better and be more productive each day! From a healthy diet and exercise to choosing a zero gravity chair for relaxing (and boosting blood circulation), even the smallest activities can have a major impact. Consult your doctor then try these tips out and see the difference they make in your life.
Want to learn more about the benefits of zero gravity chairs for all ages? Check out these resources: