A Teenager with Palpitation

Cardiologists around the world are advising their patients on a couple of common lifestyle changes that are very easy to follow. Considering the alarming rate at which cardiac diseases have become widespread, it can be of great benefit for everyone, whether they are cardiac patients or not, to follow the cardiologist’s advice.

It is no surprise that heart diseases, especially heart attacks are on the rise in the young population. This is mainly due to the stressful life that we are forced to live. Today, no one has time to relax and unwind.When it comes to food, we prefer restaurant food or packaged and processed foods and not healthy, homemade traditional food.

But if each of us could put in some effort to take time for ourselves and to choose the better option for our health, chances are that we can see a huge difference in the prevalence of heart diseases.

1. Limit salt There is no debate that too much salt is bad for all your organs. Eating too much salt can lead to elevated blood pressure because of the sodium and hence hypertension. It has been found that hypertension is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease. Although avoiding salt completely is not practical at all, you can limit added salts and avoid foodstuff that has excess salt in them such as chips, frozen foods, pickles, etc.

2. Choose food smartly The age-old saying, “eat to live but don’t live to eat” is just about right to keep in mind when splurging on all the kinds of oily and cholesterol-rich foods that we consume. Every meal must provide nutrition to the body and not just fill your stomach. Choose foods that have high nutritive value, and have a balanced meal each time you sit at the dining table. Foods that are oily and deep-fried are devoid of nutrients, the same goes for packaged foods and frozen food.

3. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables are high in nutritive value, they are loaded with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. Try eating too many apples, you just cannot! and this is due to the fruit being rich in nutrients, unlike fast foods that leave you feeling hungry after eating one big meal. Avocados, berries, walnuts, beans, legumes, broccoli, and sprouts are jam-packed with all that is good for your heart health. Consume these in plenty.

4. Get moving A simple exercise routine can improve your heart function two folds. People who get regular exercise have been found to have a lower resting heart rate and better control of blood pressure. Simple physical activities such as a walk in the park, jogging, swimming, or yoga can show great results for heart health.

5. Reduce stress Stress is the monstrous root cause of the majority of heart problems. Feelings of irritability, anxiety, confusion, and depression are all bad for the heart. You must take an initiative to try to reduce the stress in your life or seek methods for better management of stress. Meditation, therapy, occasional treatment, and self-care can be used as great stress busters.

As a rule of thumb, we must remember that everything we choose is either good or bad for our health. It ultimately comes down to your choice, so choose better.