Maintaining a Healthy Heart

Genetics, or inheritance from family, plays a role in the condition of your heart, but even people who are genetically prone to heart disease can follow a few straightforward guidelines to increase the likelihood that a heart attack will not be in their cards.

It’s been common knowledge for a long time now that smoking tobacco is more than a major contributor to lung cancer, throat cancer and other ills. It’s also terribly bad for the ole ticker. Chemicals in the smoke aggravate the circulator system, causing inflation in the arteries and you can guess how damaging that is for your heart. So, if you’re serious and want to maintain a healthy heart, then pack in the fags.

A number of people confuse heartburn with heart disease or heart attacks, but heart burn actually has nothing to do with the heart - it's a digestive problem.

Some of the most recent exploration in medical science suggests that there is a link between gum disease, tooth decay and atherosclerosis, which a leading cause of heart disease. It may sound a little strange but what this means is the better you care for your mouth, the better it is for your heart. The same bacteria that cause gingivitis wreaks havoc on your heart too. So, brush at least twice a day and floss daily per your dentist's instructions. Also, don't postpone your visits to your dentist. Get cavities taken care of right away, and preserve your teeth as long as possible. Missing teeth are another indicator that your heart may be in trouble.

A healthy heart diet is another factor that can benefit the health of this major organ. Some foods that are particularly good for this include those that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts, cold-water fish, and olive oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Also good are whole grains (forget the white bread and baked potatoes), fresh vegetables, especially tomatoes and eggplant. For dessert, serve up a little bowl of blueberries, and your will doing well.

Another key to having a healthy heart is to exercise. If you’re a little overweight to begin with, many fitness centers today have gadgets like a Heart Rate Monitor, so you can make sure you don’t over do it using these visual monitoring devices.

Burn off that excess fat, especially around the abdomen. It's especially hard on your heart to carry fat around your belly. It secretes harmful proteins into your bloodstream, which head straight for your heart. Pick some exercise you like and stick with it.

Remember, prevention is the best way forward and exercise has innumerable benefits for everyone. Running, biking, swimming, even walking are all very good for you. If you walk five miles a day, you'll burn off 500 extra calories. And you don't have to do it all in one long walk. You can split it up into two or three shorter walks and still enjoy the benefits.

Don’t wait for the heart scan . Start taking care of yourself today.
You deserve it.

Article by Andy Maingam