With heart disease being the lead killer in both men and women in the United States, heart health is something every individual should be concerned about. Fortunately, maintaining a healthy heart is within your control. Certain risk factors such as age and family history can’t be changed, but you can help limit the hereditary risk of heart disease with the correct lifestyle choices. Here are 3 lifestyle changes to protect your heart and overall health as you age.
Lowering The Risk Of Heart Disease
Kick Unhealthy Habits
Although it’s common knowledge that excessive drinking and smoking are detrimental to your health, most people don’t fully understand the complications these habits can bring to your heart’s well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even if you have no other risk factors, smoking raises your chances of developing heart disease by two to four times. This is because smoking leads to plaque buildup and hardened arteries, both of which force the heart to overwork. Additionally, long-term drinking can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke. Kicking both of these unhealthy habits is key to optimal heart health.
Manage High Cholesterol
About one in every six American adults have high cholesterol, which increases the chances of heart disease. There is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is the “bad” cholesterol and there is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is considered the “good” cholesterol. Having too much LDL and not enough HDL can also result in plaque building upon the walls of the arteries. This leads to restricted blood flow and increased chances of a heart attack. Diet and exercise are the key ways to help manage high cholesterol, however, some people may need medication to help as well. Also, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol doesn’t have symptoms so ensuring you get bloodwork done regularly is important.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Weight extremes are another factor that can increase your risk for heart disease. However, obesity is not the only weight problem correlated to heart complications. Heart disease is the most common cause of death for people who suffer from severe anorexia. Anorexia causes problems such as low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and an imbalance of electrolytes, which are vital for maintaining a regular heartbeat. On the other hand, obesity also has a direct effect on your heart health. Whether you are underweight or overweight, it’s important to determine your body’s healthy weight and create a diet that will help you reach that goal.
Living A Long And Healthy Life
There is an abundance of factors that affect one’s heart health as they age, and weight management is usually the most impactful way to prevent heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight promotes exercise and will help keep you energized and active. However, diet and exercise is sometimes not enough to get you past a weight plateau. That’s why at Biocure, we offer all-natural lipotropic injections to boost your metabolism and help in the weight loss process. For more information on our different treatments, please contact us today and see how we can help you prepare for a better future.
