How to Take Care of Your Heart: 5 Key Tips to Know

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

That’s why you want to take steps to safeguard your ticker.

Learning how to take care of your heart doesn’t have to require sweeping life changes. Some small tweaks can have a significant impact on your life and longevity. 

Here are five key tips to know. 

1. Take Care of Your Teeth

Dental health is important for more than just the obvious reasons. The precursors for periodontal disease — also known as gum disease — are very similar to those of heart disease. However, it’s easy to prevent periodontal disease with proper oral hygiene. 

The right dental hygiene routine can keep bacteria out of your bloodstream, too. All of this creates a healthier mouth, and many health experts say that this goes hand in hand with a healthy body — heart included. 

2. Sleep Well

If you aren’t getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, you could be putting your heart at risk. 

Experts believe that too little sleep doesn’t give your body the time it needs to remedy such conditions as inflammation or high blood pressure. As such, studies have shown that those who lack proper sleep are more at risk of heart attacks and strokes, for example. 

3. Stop Smoking

The effects of smoking on cardiovascular health are hefty. Smoking can damage your heart and blood vessels. It doubles your risk of suffering from a stroke, as well.

That’s why it’s one of the top risk factors for heart disease. Your best bet is to drop the habit — you’ll feel better all around for doing it. 

4. Banish Belly Fat

A little extra fat around your midsection can adversely affect your heart health. 

Specifically, having too large of a tummy can spike your blood pressure. It can also indicate that you have unhealthy levels of lipids in your blood. 

Either way, these side effects won’t help your heart. So, ward off belly fat with a high-fiber diet, regular exercise and stress-fighting techniques, among other methods. 

5. Stand Up

A sedentary lifestyle can further damage your cardiovascular system, boost your chance of landing in the hospital and increase mortality. 

Alternatively, you can take care of your heart by moving more throughout the day. Even if your job has you sitting at a desk for eight hours, try incorporating more physical activity into your schedule. 

You can do this by parking far away and walking into the office. You might also consider conducting walking meetings or taking a stroll on your lunch break. No matter how you do it, it’s essential to break up the day with a bit of exercise.

Learn How to Take Care of Your Heart — Then Do It

It’s one thing to learn how to take care of your heart. It’s another to put those tips into practice. 

These five methods only scratch the surface of the many ways you can safeguard your heart for years to come. So, brush up, then put your findings into practice. 

It’s all worth it for a healthily beating heart. 

And for more health-centric news and tips, be sure to check out that section of our site. 

The post How to Take Care of Your Heart: 5 Key Tips to Know first appeared on Weirdomatic.

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