FIVE Lifestyle Changes to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Hello Amdavad! How are you? Hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!

This February, let’s celebrate the Month of Love by learning more about the organ that plays such a big role in loving – your heart. With this post we want to educate people about what they can and can’t do to protect their hearts, and why should heart disease prevention be a vital health goal.

What is heart disease?

Heart Disease is a term used for any disease that affects the heart. Several conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, congestive heart failure, etc., are included in heart disease.

Why should I care about heart health?

According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 17 lacs Indians die year from heart related conditions. Heart disease is the number one killer in India and it accounts for about 25% of total deaths in the country.

Think you are too young to worry about heart disease? Well, recent studies show that about 12 percent of those experiencing heart attacks in India are below 40 years of age, which is double the number seen in Western countries. Sedentary jobs, poor eating habits and lack of exercise are causing heart ailments in our younger population.

How can I prevent heart disease?

About half of our heart disease risk is genetic, which we cannot control. Your doctor can help you manage this risk.

The other half of the risk is related to your lifestyle. Luckily, we have done the homework for you. Consult links below and make the right lifestyle changes today.

1. Eat well – a healthy diet is your best weapon to fight heart disease. Choose a diet that emphasizes on intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat milk, legumes and nuts. Limit intake of sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages.
2. Exercise – aim to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as fast walking, every week. It may seem like a lot of time but it’s the same amount of time you might spend watching a 30-minute TV show daily.
3. Quit smoking – smoking increases your risk of heart disease by four times compared to a non-smoker. Quit smoking to reduce your heart disease risk.
4. Manage your weight – Overweight people have an increased risk for high cholesterol and high blood pressure – the very factors that heighten your risk of heart disease. Good nutrition, controlling calorie intake and physical activi
   ty are the only way to maintain a healthy weight.
5. Regular health check-up – A good way to keep heart disease in check is via preventative
   check-ups. Routine tests for heart disease include Lipid Profile, Complete Blood Count (CBC), Treadmill Test (TMT) and 2D Echo. Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start, and can help you live longer, healthier life.

Heart disease is one of the silent killers, so most people don’t realize the serious impact that it can have on our health. Follow these lifestyle changes and promise yourself to take charge of your health – you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to stay healthy.

Please ask a question by leaving a comment or get in touch with us at 9824003414, to learn more about heart disease related tests.

Good luck and stay healthy,

Scientific Diagnostic Centre Team