Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in New Zealand, with one Kiwi dying every 90 minutes from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease. Whilst the stats sound grim, the good news is that many of these deaths could be preventable.
Keeping (or regaining) a healthy heart may sound challenging, but it may be simpler than you think. Small changes to your daily routine can go a long way towards heart health.
Here are four ways that you can help prevent heart disease:
Be smoke-free
You likely already know that smoking is bad for your heart. It greatly increases the risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke. Quitting smoking can be hard, but the health benefits are numerous. In fact, heart attack risk starts to decrease within 8 hours of quitting! Being smoke-free will also help your loved ones by decreasing their exposure to secondhand smoke.
Get active
The heart is a muscle and needs exercise to stay fit. Cardio activity helps the heart work efficiently, and in turn helps prevent heart disease and stroke. If you’ve reached middle age without establishing a regular workout routine, you can still see benefits—each hour of regular exercise can add about two hours to your life expectancy!
Enjoy healthy foods
Maintaining a healthy weight also lowers the risk of developing heart problems. Exercise is part of this, but eating a nutritious diet is also important. Fill your plate with mostly vegetables and fruits, and include whole grains, healthy proteins, unsaturated fats and some dairy. Cutting back on sugar, salt, saturated fats and junk food is also recommended by health professionals.
Work with your doctor
You should talk to your GP before making any big lifestyle changes, such as starting a new workout routine or changing your diet. Your doctor can also help you manage health conditions, blood pressure and diabetes, that can increase heart disease risk. He or she can also help manage depression, which can negatively impact heart health.
For more information on heart health, visit the Heart Foundation website or speak with your GP.
Little hearts need love, too! That’s why Momentum Life supports Heart Kids, the only charity in New Zealand dedicated to children and families living with childhood heart defects. Learn more about how we’re helping by visiting our Heart Kids page.
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
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