The human circulatory system plays a vital role in the normal functioning of the body. This is the system that regulates vital organs’ blood supply, with the heart and blood vessels working together to achieve this. But when this system fails and the organs become less oxygenated, different diseases start to occur. Therefore, it is important to take care of your heart as it is the chief organ in the human circulatory system.
Heart diseases can be fatal. Angina, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defect, and other equally serious heart ailments do not just burn a hole in your pocket; they can also cause permanent damage to your body. If you want to keep these diseases at bay, here are 5 tips that you need to follow –
Exercise Your Heart
Exercising is the best way to keep your body fit and healthy. Routine workouts (especially cardio exercises) bring about proper blood flow throughout your body which reduces your chance of contracting heart diseases.
Get Rid of That Cigarette
Smoking causes a number of heart diseases and this is no rocket science. The chemicals in tobacco can also harm your blood cells as well as create plaque in your arteries known as atherosclerosis.
To reduce your risk of heart disease, it is wise to quit smoking soon. No matter how long you’ve been smoking, quitting will still benefit you. Make it a point to avoid secondhand smoke, too. Do not go to places that allow smoking. Tell your friends and relatives that you are quitting so that they will refrain from smoking in front of you.
Moderate Your Alcohol Intake
The effects of alcohol to the human heart are rarely discussed. In fact, people are even advised to have a glass or two of wine prior to going to bed. Did you know that binge drinking can actually let your heart beat irregularly? Excessive drinking also increases your risk of high blood pressure as it weakens the heart muscle. Eventually, you could even end up with an enlarged heart. Stop downing those bottles of alcohol and you decrease your chances of contracting any of the fatal heart diseases.
Get Ample Rest
Studies have linked sleeplessness or the lack of sleep to heart diseases; such is the fact that was proven by the University of Chicago which documented that shortened sleep (for an hour or less) can actually increase coronary calcium by about 16%. To simplify this, blood pressure decreases during sleep so this increases the body’s tendency to dislodge plaques – the lesson here is, sleep for at least 7 hours each night.
Keep Stress At Bay
Stress and heart diseases always go hand in hand. No medical researcher has proven how stress increases heart disease risks but the fact remains that a person who is under stress tends to overeat, exercise less and is likely to smoke.
Once you have identified the cause of your stress, your next move is to learn the techniques that can help you cope with them. If breathing techniques no longer work, you should get in touch with a trained therapist.
Elena is a writer for New You Boot Camp. She’s passionate about helping people get healthy through exercise and choosing the right foods.
