Five Ways to Love Your Heart

You can improve your heart health through the choices you make every day. Scheduling routine medical care with your doctor is most important, but a few simple, consistent lifestyle changes can go a long way toward improving your heart health.

1.????? Move to the Beat. The heart is a muscle, so exercise strengthens it. Even light exercise, such as walking or gardening, is a powerful tool for preventing heart disease (and other diseases, such as diabetes). It also contributes to better sleep which decreases how hard your heart must work. Before you start any exercises, make sure to speak with your doctor about what exercises may be best for you.?

2.????? Diversify Your Diet. Some of the best heart-healthy tips are also some of the easiest. Here are examples: eat a variety of colorful vegetables, drink plenty of water, and avoid too many processed foods. Among the best superfoods are blueberries, asparagus, walnuts, oatmeal — and dark chocolate!

3.????? Control Your Cravings. While eating a variety of heart-healthy foods is recommended, you should not go overboard. Eating too much in one sitting can put strain on your body and digestive system.? Ask your health care providers about the best heart-healthy foods for you and proper serving sizes.

4.????? Know Your Numbers. According to the American Heart Association, blood pressure numbers of less than 120/80 mm Hg are considered within the normal range. Be aware of your numbers and make sure you are maintaining appropriate blood pressure levels. Talk to your doctor and partner with them to help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. ?In between doctor visits, you can visit your local pharmacy or buy an at-home blood pressure kit to monitor your levels.

5.????? Don’t Worry, Be Happy. How you deal with stress can change with age, and proper stress management is important. Know what causes you stress and consider writing it down or talking to someone to help process your stress. You can also relieve tension by trying something new. A break from your normal routine can infuse a bit of fun into your daily life, boosting your happiness. And if you laugh while doing it, all the better. As they say, laughter is the best medicine!

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