Healthy Heart For Adults

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Smoking: There has been an alarming increase in the number of adults dying from heart related ailments every year. Most of these deaths are due to smoking which has an adverse effect on heart vessels and blood vessels. Smoking increases heart rate, cause irregularities in heartbeats and lead to constriction of the major heart muscles. Smoking raises blood pressure which in turn gives rise to cases or heart attack and stroke in grownups. Nicotine in cigarette smoke along with the other harmful chemicals and substances like tar and carbon monoxide are very harmful for your heart, and can affect fibrinogen levels which are responsible for blood clotting. Excessive smoking can lead to a blood clot which under certain conditions can lead to a fatal heart attack.

Fresh Air: Bodily immobility and idleness too contributes to rising instances of heart diseases. A busy lifestyle, rushing to work and taking care of the home responsibilities all takes its toll on wear and tear of the heart. Not getting enough of fresh air, exercise and relaxation causes increases in cholesterol levels, stress and thereby has adverse effects on the functioning of a healthy heart. An average of 2500 calories per week need to be expended either through long walks in the open air, workouts at a gym or some other forms of exercise like yoga, aerobics, dance, etc.

Physical Activity: One need not over do the exercise regimen but light to moderate exercise is a must for a healthy heart. However, all adults especially in the age group of 40 and above who have some history of heart ailments or diseases in the family should consult a doctor before embarking on any form of exercise. Those adults with a history of heart diseases or those who have a stress related job with little time for any sort of physical activity should get periodic heart checkups done by a reputed cardiologist. A thorough check up which should include an ECG, stress test and physical examination along with advice on how to improve your diet and lifestyle.

Dietary Alterations: Most doctors advise inclusion of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet along with grains, nuts and fat free meats. Strict adherence to a healthy diet would benefit your heart to a great extent. Even if stress levels are high and activity levels are low, a healthy diet should be maintained to protect your heart. One should avoid butter, oil, excess salt, red meats, yolks of eggs, cream, lard etc. Fish is very beneficial for a healthy heart and an adult should have at least two servings of fish a week. Certain types of fish contain Omega 3 oils which have proved to be very beneficial for a healthy heart.

Limit alcohol intake: Women should not have more than one alcoholic drink per day and men should not exceed two pegs. Statistics indicate that heart disease is considerably lower in moderate drinkers than in people who do not drink at all. However, drinking more than the prescribed limit would cause heart disease and also lead to high blood pressure as calories from alcohol are adding to fat content in your body. One should realize the risks involved in following an unhealthy lifestyle and changes should be made before it is too late.