Terri Ramsey Beavers Everyone expects to encounter health issues as they get older. These issues could be a bad knee or back; it might be issues with hearing or sight. They are expected, yet there are ways you can still live your normal life thanks to treatment or accessories like hearing aids or glasses.
But, other health issues can be much more damaging to your everyday life. One particular health issue that is common amongst around half of all American adults is cardiovascular disease. Heart problems are a significant issue for many, which is why knowing how to reduce heart problems as you get older can help you live a long and happy life. Learn to Recognize the Signs
It’s easy to attribute chest pain or shortness of breath to being out of shape or simply getting older. But, these could be a strong sign that there is something more severe occurring, and it’s worth considering if there is anything more you can or should do.
This is especially true if you do not live a healthy lifestyle. If you prefer to gorge on red meat and fat-packed snacks all while sitting on the sofa watching TV, your chances of heart problems increase dramatically. If you struggle with climbing stairs or doing an intense activity, you might be suffering from heart problems.
Exercise More Often
Once you recognize the signs of heart disease, you can start thinking about how a healthier lifestyle can change your condition and give you a better chance of living a long and prosperous life.
Exercise is one of the best ways to do this, yet people who struggle with intense activity often give up because it’s too hard or they don’t see immediate results. The good news is that you don’t need to transform yourself into an athlete overnight. You don’t need to run 5K (or more) and even a daily walk for half an hour around the neighborhood can do wonders for reducing heart issues. The more comfortable you become with physical activity, the easier things will be.
Evaluate Your Diet
Exercise is only one piece of the puzzle, though. You can’t outwork a bad diet, especially if you consume high cholesterol foods like red meat. Evaluating your diet will help you identify which foods could be most damaging to your heart.
Once you establish this, you can take steps to reduce your intake or find replacements altogether. It can take time to make dietary adjustments that stick, but it will benefit your body and heart when you manage it.
Cut Out Smoking and Drinking
If you’re prone to a cigarette and a beer after work, you are doing potentially irreparable damage to your heart. Excessive smoking and drinking can clog your arteries and make it difficult for blood to pump consistently through your body.
Furthermore, smoking and drinking can have an impact on your ability to exercise. Beer causes you to put on weight, while smoking causes shortness of breath which creates a cycle that is difficult to break. You are unable to push yourself further because you smoke, and this means you’re unable to cut the weight gained.
Reduce Stress
Experts have discovered that chronic stress can contribute to heart problems. If you work in a stressful environment or have trouble controlling your temper and emotions, you will experience high blood pressure which forces your heart to work harder.
There are numerous techniques you can consider that will help reduce stress. Meditation and exercise are two of the most common and popular options. Changing your attitude towards stressful situations can also help, so consider effective stress management techniques that can reduce the impact chronic stress has on your heart.
Get Regular Checkups
People who want to get the full picture of their health should make the most of regular checkups, if they should do a web search for ‘cardiologist near me’ especially if they consider themselves unhealthy, overweight, or struggling to kick bad habits.
Regularly scheduled physicals and appointments with your doctor can make it easier to identify common heart issues. They will be able to identify problems like cor pulmonale and provide guidance and treatment to reduce further issues. They can also help design a tailored plan to make significant lifestyle changes more manageable for you. This assistance can make it easier than starting alone and make you more confident.
Happy Heart
Although some health problems can seem inescapable, there are ways you can avoid them and keep your heart happy. By maintaining an active lifestyle and understanding the risks of particular bad habits or diets, you can reduce the risk of heart problems as you get older.