Heart health can make a huge difference in your quality of life. It can determine whether you’re able to do the things you want to do and be as active as you would like, or not. At Central Ozarks Medical Center, we want your quality of life to be the best it can be, and we also know that prevention goes a long way. So, we thought we would share with you a few positive habits you might consider that would be good for your heart. If you are interested in some practical, simple steps you can take to maintain or improve your heart health, we have ideas for you in this blog.
Move More
Exercise plays a huge role in your heart health. If you can make a habit to get even mild to moderate exercise several days a week, that is a great start! If you have a job that requires you to sit for long periods, be sure to get up and move around every couple of hours. Just standing up and taking a walk around the office is better than sitting in the same position all day, every day. If you forget, set a reminder on your phone until it becomes a regular habit.
Consider Your Calories
Your heart works harder if you are carrying extra weight. One simple change you can make that will cut out a lot of daily calories is to avoid sugary drinks. Switching to water is even better. If you can be thoughtful and limit the amount of juice, sweetened coffee, soda, sweet tea, etc., you will be doing your heart a favor. The same goes for alcohol consumption as well.
Use Less Salt
Most Americans consume nearly twice the amount of salt that is recommended by the American Heart Association. Doing this over a long period of time can lead to everything from high blood pressure to weaker bones, to edema, and other problems. Eating less processed food, choosing fresh or frozen vegetables over canned vegetables, opting for lightly salted instead of regular salted options, and skipping the table salt are all ways to be good to your heart.
Be Mindful of Stress
We know it is impossible to avoid stress, but when you know you are dealing with a lot of stress it is important to take even a small amount of time to de-stress. Taking a short walk, sitting in the sunshine, playing with your pet, or doing something you enjoy can reset your mind and allow you to get through your day with a little less negative energy. It is worth taking the effort and can actually help you be more productive than if you just try to soldier on.
Rest Well
Another way to help your heart health is to have a good sleep schedule. 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night for young and middle-aged adults is about right. We know there are things that can make that difficult but try to set it for a target as a way to take care of your heart.
Our specialists and primary care physicians in mid-Missouri care about your heart health. If you have any concerns or would just like to get a checkup to make sure your heart is in tip-top shape, please call us today. We have locations all over the Lake of the Ozarks area and mobile units if you have trouble getting transportation to one of our health clinics in mid-Missouri. If you would like to hear more in the future about health tips and other announcements from COMC, be sure to follow us on social media using the links below.
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