How Important is Cardiovascular Care?

It sounds like a no-brainer to say that a person needs to take care of their heart. However, when you look at the United States, you see that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. And what makes things even sadder is the fact that in most cases, these cardiovascular related deaths are preventable through proper cardiovascular care. There are certain steps that a person can take to protect themselves against cardiovascular disease. The majority of them are very simple and can easily be worked into a healthy lifestyle.

The first step in taking care of your heart and your cardiovascular system is knowing how it is currently working. Keep track of things like your blood pressure, hemoglobin levels and cholesterol levels. If you notice a spike or a drastic decrease in some of these numbers, take immediate action.

Next, be careful with your diet. Researchers have clearly shown that a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and that includes a moderate amount of whole grains and nuts can drastically decrease cardiovascular incidents by up to 30 percent. Conversely, diets that are full of fats that have a lot of sugar in them can increase the risk of heart disease by 30 percent. Watching what you put in your mouth is one of the best steps that you can take when it comes to protecting the health of your heart.

Exercise is a very important component of cardiovascular care. The American Heart Association recommends that people do at least two hours of cardiovascular exercise every week. It might surprise some to learn that they can protect their cardiovascular health by doing something as little as two hours of exercise a week. This is because most people believe that in order to improve the health of their heart, they need to exercise hours every day. However, according to the American Heart Association, this small increase in cardiovascular exercise can lower the risk of heart disease.

Keep stress to a minimum. Stress takes a drastic toll on your heart. This is because when you are under a lot of stress, your body triggers a fight or flight response. Your body is on high alert and is ready to take quick action. As a result, stress hormones in the body increase. This increases your heart rate and increases your blood pressure. Since everyone has stress in their lives, the key is learning how to manage that stress and not have the stress manage you.

You only have one heart, and it is essential for your very existence. Taking small steps can go a long way in improving the health of your heart, allowing you to live a long and healthy life. Schedule an appointment at Cardiac Associates of North Jersey to learn more about how cardiovascular care can benefit you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Oakland.