Contrary to popular belief, you are never too young or too old to take care of your heart. If you make the right choices now, it will pay off later in life. In fact, one of these payoffs might include preventing heart disease. There are simple steps that you can follow to keep your heart healthy, and they are applicable at any age. Keep reading to learn how!
Simple Steps to Prevent Heart Disease
All Ages
Regardless of your age, anyone and everyone can benefit from living a healthy lifestyle, just by learning to intertwine a healthy diet with a moderate amount of physical activity.
- Decide on a healthy eating plan. It’s as simple as it sounds. If you maintain a healthy diet, you will decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke.
As part of a healthy diet, make sure you choose foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium. Additionally, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains enriched with fibers, legumes, fish (oily fish, twice per week), and try to avoid meals with meat in it. Stick to poultry if you can, however, if you choose to eat meat, avoid red meat and only select the leanest cuts available.
- Stay active! Start by working up to at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity every week. If this feels to advanced, you can do 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic physical activity such as jogging or running.
In fact, on 2 or more days a week, you should be working on muscle-strengthening activities. These activities should work all major muscle groups such as legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest shoulders, and arms. Children, on the other hand, should be getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Learn the warning signs of heart disease.
Despite what many might think, not everyone undergoing a heart attack or stroke will experience sudden numbness or severe chest pain. Additionally, heart attack symptoms appear different in women than men. It’s crucial that you learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke so you can recognize it if they are happening to you.
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