Your kids need you around for a long time. The best way to show your kids that you love them is by protecting and taking good care of them. However, you cannot do this effectively if you are in poor health. Having a healthy heart is the key to enjoying overall health. Most people fail to take care of this most important muscle until it is too late. Do not wait until your heart is not working right before you start taking care of it. Make the effort to keep your heart healthy starting today!
Heart diseases are a major cause of death worldwide. Many people who end up dealing with heart issues could have avoided the diseases if they had taken care of their hearts. Fortunately, taking care of your heart is as simple as embracing a healthy lifestyle. This is something that you can start at any age.
Regardless of how old or how young you are, you can start taking care of your heart. The sooner you begin making healthy choices, the more you can expect to reap the benefits.
Choosing Healthier Food
One of the easiest and most effective ways to help your heart is by making healthy food choices. Eating a good diet is something that everyone can do. Healthy food can lower the risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. The same way you want to give your kids healthy food, you should do the same for yourself. Introducing good eating habits in your home will keep everyone healthy. Fortunately, getting details about the best foods for your heart is easy. Talk to a health expert or go online for all the information you need about choosing a good diet.
Make Time to Exercise
Exercise helps to keep the heart healthy. If you are a busy mom, you may be thinking that you don’t have time to exercise. The truth is that you can make the time, at least 30 minutes every day. You can turn playtime into a time to exercise with your kids. Kicking a ball around, playing with the dog, shooting hoops and other activities can help you to get some exercise. Exercise helps to keep your heart rate up thereby strengthening it and preventing plaque buildup. Keep active and you can start looking good and feeling fit in the bargain.
Avoid Stressful Situations
Stress is one of the major contributors to heart disease. Taking care of your kids, running the home and maybe even maintaining a full-time job can be stressful. However, you need to do everything that you can to get rid of stress. Sometimes, it may mean changing your schedule or getting a new job. You may think that you are trying to do what’s best for the family but the truth is that your kids need you more than the things you provide. Learn some relaxation techniques and make time for yourself where you can recharge and find some peace.
Avoid Alcohol & Smoking
Smoking exposes you to harmful substances that have a toxic effect on the heart. Cigarette smoke will increase your chances of getting heart disease. You also have to be careful about being around smokers. Remember that you can suffer the same problems if you spend time around someone who smokes. Drinking alcohol in excess can lead to severe heart problems. Drinking too much alcohol will not just affect your health, it also interferes with your mind. Your kids want a healthy and happy parent and this means making responsible choices.
Watch Your Weight
Being overweight is linked to different health and heart problems. You can find out your ideal weight by carrying out a body mass index test. The more weight you have the higher your risk of health complications including high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood sugar, breathing problems, and even cancer. Choosing a healthy diet and exercise will help you to lose weight. Losing 5% to 10% of your current weight can drastically reduce your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
Remember that you are in control over many of the things that influence heart health. A healthy lifestyle will improve your mood, leaving you with more energy and reduced stress. When you understand the benefits of having a healthy heart, you will realize it’s worth the effort to make some changes. You can be on the path to improved health and showing your kids how much you love them. To ensure that your heart remains healthy, make sure that you visit a doctor for consultation and regular checkups.
Sources: familydoctor.org, steptohealth.com, webmd.com, health.clevelandclinic.org