Heart of the Matter
February is heart month so of course I need to discuss the heart. After all that is my thing! What can you do to keep your heart healthy?
In my opinion, one of the best things you can do is stay active. I have been working with heart patients for over 40 years now and I can tell you those that stayed active did so much better as they aged than those that were sedentary. The heart is a muscle so, if you don’t use it you lose it. To keep the heart healthy, you must get it pumping more. Some activity is better than no activity at all. ACSM (The American College of Sports Medicine) recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Next follow the Mediterranean diet. Studies have shown for heart health the best overall way of eating is the Mediterranean way. See my blog from last year on the Blue Zones. It reviews the Mediterranean way of life.
The next area, in my opinion, is stress and the way we look at life and how involved we are. You make ask, what the heck is this guy talking about? We know that stress has a horrible affect on our body. From not sleeping well, feeling anxious about everything, becoming negative about things, all affects our bodies in a very negative way. Heart rate and blood pressure remain elevated and we are constantly in fight or flight mode. The stress hormones are then always turned on and cause havoc with the body’s processes. It affects us both mentally and physically.
Some ways to help with this is yoga, relaxation techniques, deep breathing, meditation, finding hobbies, read a book, take a walk in nature or listen to music. Find what works for you to destress.
Another important factor in keeping stress down is being engaged/involved with something. People who volunteer or work part time feel needed which makes a huge difference in your outlook. It keep you more positive too. When we look at the world with positivity it truly makes a huge difference. It brightens your day even if its gloomy outside. Try starting and finishing everyday with gratitude. It may make a small difference in your outlook.
It’s never too late to try and do any of the things I have mentioned here. If you find you need help with any of them, please contact me. If I personally can’t help you, I will find someone that can.
Thank you for giving the opportunity to share with you!