The human heart is a four-chambered double pump that is the center of the circulatory system. It is a muscular organ about the size of a fist, located just behind and slightly left of the breastbone. The heart pumps blood through the arteries and veins called the cardiovascular system. The heart has four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The atria are the upper chambers and receive blood from the veins2. The ventricles are the lower chambers and pump blood out of the heart.
Tips on how to keep your heart healthy
The heart is one of our body’s most critical organs; keeping it healthy is essential for a long and healthy life. Here are some tips that can help you keep your heart healthy:
1. Don’t smoke or use Tobacco
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. The chemicals you inhale when you smoke cause damage to your heart and blood vessels that make you more likely to develop atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the arteries. Any amount of smoking, even occasional smoking, can cause this damage to the heart and blood vessels. If smoking blocks blood flow to the heart, it can cause a heart attack. Without enough oxygen-rich blood, the heart muscle starts to die.
2. Get regular physical activity
Exercise and regular physical activity have several heart health benefits, including increasing heart muscle strength, improving lung function, and lowering blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides. Exercise also decreases levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory protein elevated in chronic conditions. A regular exercise routine can help lower blood pressure and lessen the risk of developing diabetes. Exercise can also maintain a healthy body weight and reduce inflammation throughout the body. One of the key benefits of exercise is that it helps to control or modify any of the risk factors that contribute to heart disease.
3. Eat a heart-healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. A heart-healthy diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. It also limits foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. Eating foods that are high in fiber can also help lower blood cholesterol levels.
4. Get enough quality sleep
Getting enough sleep is important for heart health. Lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Sleep helps your body regulate stress hormones and helps your nervous system remain healthy. It also helps your body repair damaged cells and tissues.
5. Manage stress
Stress can affect your heart health in several ways. It can cause high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Stress can also cause inflammation in the body, which can lead to heart disease. It can also lead to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, smoking, and drinking alcohol, which can increase your risk of heart disease.
6. Wash your hands often
Washing your hands can help prevent the spread of germs and infections, which can help reduce your risk of developing illnesses that can affect your heart health. For example, the flu and pneumonia can lead to complications such as heart attack and stroke.
Conclusion
In addition to these tips, there are other things you can do to keep your heart healthy such as reducing salt intake, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding foods high in saturated fats. As we grow old, we tend to develop heart diseases. It is very important to keep your heart healthy otherwise it might have severe or fatal consequences.
Following these tips can help keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. We hope that you found this article helpful. If you did, share it with your friends and family and let everyone know how to keep their hearts healthy!