Your Heart Works Hard For You
On an average day, the heart beats 100,000 times and pumps approximately 2,000 gallons of blood throughout the body, carrying oxygen, hormones, other compounds, and a host of essential cells.
Given its never-ending workload and role in powering all other essential functions, it’s no wonder why this beating muscle requires a little extra care.
What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease encompasses heart and blood vessel problems and can result in an acute event, such as a heart attack or stroke. These events are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30.3 million adults have been diagnosed with heart disease, and it affects men, women, and people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds in the United States.
The good news? Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol, hypertension and diabetes.
4 Ways To Stay Heart Healthy
When it comes to heart disease, the best plan of attack centers on understanding your level of risk, identifying which factors are within your control and implementing healthy habits to ensure better health outcomes. Such factors include:
Choose a healthy diet – Permanently improve your eating habits by making small changes over time. Integrate more fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods into your diet so your body gets more nutrients and fiber. Limit foods that contain sodium, sugar and fats. Establishing these new dietary habits will help to lower your blood pressure and blood sugar.
Weight control – Taking steps toward a healthy weight is important to decreasing the risk of developing high blood pressure, as carrying extra weight puts extra stress on the heart and blood vessels.
Physical activity – Lack of movement is directly related to the development of heart disease. In addition to aiding weight management, physical activity strengthens the immune system, improves mood, and decreases blood pressure, blood sugarand cholesterol levels. Participating in moderate physical activity forjust 30 minutes a day has been found to reduce the risk of stroke by 20%.
Refrain from smoking – Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease, as it may cause plaque to build up in your arteries. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, try proven treatments to help you quit in order to lower your risk for heart disease.
How Presidio Can Help
To ensure the success of your family member’s heart healthy journey, our Home Care Aides offer a range of support services such as preparing nutrient-rich meals tailored to your loved one’s particular tastes, managing medication, participating in aerobic activities and providing emotional companionship.
A heart disease diagnosis may be sudden, but you’re not alone. If you are living with heart disease, consider components like care plans with clear goals, patient education, self-care management, and access to care and optimized treatment. Continuity of care from the hospital to home can make all the difference.
Presidio Home Care is ready to help. Contact Us for a free consultation.
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