Heart Health Tips

Did you know that February is National Heart Month? It is! On that note, our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few heart health tips in this week’s blog. If you end up having any questions about heart health or feel that you need to schedule a health check-up, please give us a call today. You will find all of our phone numbers on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. COMC – It’s not just about what we do, but how we do it that matters.

Heart Health Tips

EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE.

Your body’s ease of mobility and range of motion often follows the “use it or lose it” rule. The less you move your body, the harder it will be for you to be active when you do decide to be. It’s important to give your body mild to moderate exercise at least a few days per week. It is also important to limit the amount of time you spend sitting down. If you must sit for long periods of time at work, get up and stretch your legs every 1-2 hours.

GET YOUR SLEEP.

Maintaining the proper level of sleep on a nightly basis is an important component of keeping your heart healthy. One study cited on WebMD found that young and middle-aged adults who got 7-8 hours of sleep per night had less calcium in their arteries than adults who slept 5 hours or less or 9 hours or more. Calcium buildup in the arteries can be an early sign of heart disease.

WATCH YOUR SALT INTAKE.

The American Heart Association recommends that you consume only 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day and that you do not exceed 2,400 milligrams. Unfortunately, the CDC states that Americans consume, on average, 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day. Prolonged high-sodium diets can result in high blood pressure, edema, weakened bones, and potentially stomach problems. Limiting your sodium intake is an important part of improving heart health.

DON’T DRINK YOUR CALORIES.

Being overweight is hard on the body. It makes your heart (and other systems) work harder, and this extra effort can eventually take a toll. Losing weight is rarely easy, but one helpful way to start is to quit drinking sugary beverages that cause you to consume more calories than you may realize. Start by limiting the amount of soda, sweetened tea, fruit juice, and sweetened coffee that you consume on a regular basis. Cutting back on your alcohol intake is important, too.

Did this blog come to your attention at the perfect time? Have you been worried about your heart health for some time now and you’re realizing you shouldn’t wait any longer to go get checked by a health care professional? If that’s the case, please call us today. Again, you will find all of our phone numbers on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. Be sure to follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements and health tips.

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