How to Strengthen Your Heart and Lower Your Risk

A car can only run well if the engine is taken care of. In the same way, our bodies can only run well if we take care of our engine—the heart! With heart disease remaining the leading cause of death in the United States, it is still crucial to take seriously the well being of our cardiovascular system. There are three simple steps to keeping, or making, our hearts healthy and strong; diet, exercise, and working with your medical provider for treatments and strategies that work best for you!We are what we eat, and if we want to be healthy, we need to eat healthy. Thankfully, this isn’t rocket science. Studies have shown that a heart healthy diet, and thus a diet which works to prevent heart disease, is one which is low and sodium and saturated fats. One easy way to limit these in your diet is to avoid highly processed foods. Eat your fruits and veggies, stick to whole grains, and commit to taking a little bit more time in preparing and planning your meals. You may save time today going through the drive-thru, but who knows how many hours receiving healthcare because of consistent trips through the fast-food lines you could rack up!

In addition to diet, consistent exercise is crucial to heart health. You don’t need to become an Ironman triathlete or an Olympic gymnast. Simple, low-impact exercises done with intention and consistency can produce huge dividends for your health. Reductions in blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and a decreased chance of cardiovascular disease, as well as increases in numerous psychological benefits, are all things that have been documented as outcomes of exercise. You also have options for how you get your exercise. You can walk briskly, do yard work, ride your bike, go for a swim, play sports, and more. As long as you achieve at least 30 minutes of exercise most days, you’ll be well on your way to heart health!

Finally, you should work with your trusted medical provider to receive appropriate preventative treatment. A variety of tests and screenings can monitor your cholesterol, blood pressure, and a variety of other health conditions. Furthermore, discussing your family health history with your doctor will go a long in way in determining what you are at risk for in terms of cardiovascular events, as well as help determine what an appropriate plan of action or treatment is for you.

The most important step of any journey is the first one, and the Liberty HealthShare community is on a journey together as we walk the path where faith and healthcare unite! If you want to explore joining a like-minded community that emphasizes the health of the whole person, cardiovascular wellness included, then don’t wait! Take our program-finding quiz or give us a call today! In the meantime, remember that the little things make a big difference.

A healthy heart starts now!