The first and foremost thing we should learn about taking care of heart is what the major diseases are and what they can do to our body. Diseases that attack the heart are cardiomyopathy, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac failure is a life-threatening condition where the heart muscle ceases to function. The organ will fail to pump blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. As soon as the organ fails, it will stop pumping blood and oxygen to the body. Other types of diseases include rheumatic fever, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arteriosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, atrial fibrillation, atherosclerosis, kidney failure, autoimmune thyroid disease and aneurysm.
To prevent cardiovascular diseases, we should modify our lifestyle and change our eating habits. A healthy diet with nutritious and low-fat foods is a must in our everyday life. We must have a balanced diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats. Regular physical activity is a must. Walking for at least 30 minutes every day is one way of taking care of heart health. Having a regular exercise program is one of the best ways to reduce our blood cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy weight.
Junk food and refined sugar can be found almost everywhere. Taking care of heart involves reducing consumption of junk food and sugar. Fruit juices and fruit extracts are great alternatives to junk food and sugar. They have a low glycemic index and can help the body digest foods without any problems.
Unsaturated fats are important but not all fats are good sources of unsaturated fats. Saturated fats are called saturated fats because they have a very bad effect on the heart. Foods which are high in saturated fats include butter, cooking oils, some fish such as cod, and tropical oils. Salt intake is also very important to lower down blood cholesterol levels. The best sources of salt include table salt, sea salt and even dried fruits and nuts.
Other factors which are known to affect the risk of heart diseases are smoking and alcohol drinking. Both these factors are known to increase the risk of cardiac problems. Cigarettes and alcohol both contain nicotine, which causes a stimulation of the blood vessels leading to the heart. When the heart’s blood flow becomes faster than the elasticity, blood will accumulate in the placenta causing fetal abnormalities that may lead to heart diseases later on. Therefore, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol is a good way of preventing cardiac problems.
Some other factors which are known to affect the risk of heart failure include overweight or obese people, slow breathing, poor eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity. These factors affect the body’s blood circulation and can lead to various cardiac problems. Slow breathing leads to narrowing of the bronchial tubes and can contribute to the accumulation of blood in the body and thereby causing a heart attack. Sedentary lifestyle is also another factor which is considered one of the leading causes of heart diseases. A sedentary lifestyle is characterized by poor food habits such as eating fast food, not exercising, and spending most of the time in front of the TV.
To control the risk of heart attack, it is recommended to eat more nutritious foods and start taking physical activity. Foods rich in potassium, calcium, fiber, vitamins C and E, fish oils, and cholesterol are known to be good for your health. To improve your health, you should start taking high quality supplements that contain vitamins, minerals and nutrients that help improve the function of the heart. Some of the commonly taken supplements include beta carotene, fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, and omega-3 fats. It is important to know the correct amount of intake of these nutrients to prevent from experiencing adverse effects.
The recommended diet to have a healthy heart is one rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals and nutrients and a little amount of physical activity. This kind of diet is called the Mediterranean diet. This type of diet includes foods rich in potassium, fiber, calcium, vitamins, and physical activity. This type of diet makes sure that you always have something to chew on because there is no other source of nutrition other than the food you eat.