New Year begins with new
resolutions. From being productive to beating procrastination to eating healthy
and exercising, people make all sorts of commitments to make their new year
better and more satisfying than the previous year. However, seldom do they
realize that making heart-healthy resolutions is also vital to lead a healthy
and fulfilling life.
Studies suggest that people with
health problems experience a host of emotional and physical symptoms, such as
depression, anxiety, insomnia, sleep troubles, and others, all of which can
significantly affect the quality of life. It turns out that keeping
cardiovascular health in good shape and preventing heart problems is as crucial
as focusing on physical health and other aspects of life this new year.
Here are a few New Year
resolutions you should make to keep your heart healthy:
Regularly check heart health: first thing first. Keep your heart
health in check taking a Resting ECG
test.If there are issues in the
test, you may be referred to do a Stress test or wear a 24- hour Holter
monitor.
Quit Smoking: smokers are twice as likely to develop heart problems and
experience a heart attack than those who don’t smoke. Smoking damages the
lining of your arteries and raises blood pressure, both of which are enough to
trigger heart disease.
Consume less sugar: too much sugar in your diet can cause weight gain,
which can raise blood pressure and result in heart disease and diabetes.
Control your sugar intake.
Eat more green veggies and fruits: Vegetables and fruits are a
powerful source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and other essential
nutrients that keep the heart in tip-top shape. Make sure you don’t overlook
their importance.
Cut back on alcohol: alcohol use not only damages your liver but also
causes high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and other heart problems. If you are
dependent on alcohol or any other drug, it’s time to seek help.
Besides making these resolutions,
consume a diet low in salt and saturated fats and high in essential nutrients
to boost your heart health. Don’t forget to exercise three to five times a week
to strengthen your heart muscles. Once you make these resolutions and stay true
to them, you will notice a significant improvement in your heart on your Resting, Stress Test or Holter Monitoring
test.
