Cardiovascular disease, especially heart attack, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to an estimate, one person dies every 37 seconds in America due to heart disease. It is about 6.50 lakh people die of heart attacks every year and since 2014 this number has been increasing every year. Doctors say people of all ages need to take care of heart health. Due to disturbances in diet and lifestyle, the risk of heart disease is increasing.
In India too, the number of heart attack patients has been reported to be increasing rapidly in the last two years. Due to this, many people have died at an early age. Health experts say, in order to prevent heart diseases, it is necessary to take special care of some things in the daily routine. Let us know about some such measures to keep the heart healthy.
Why the cases of heart disease have increased
Health experts say, there are many risk factors due to which people are becoming victims of serious heart diseases at an early age. If someone in your family already has the problem of heart disease, then the risk of it increases in the family. Apart from this, high blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or exposure to smoke, obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity are considered to be the major causes of heart disease and stroke.
Research has shown that there are some measures for heart disease by adopting which you can reduce your risks by up to 80%. These measures not only protect against heart diseases but also reduce the risk of stroke by half. You can also benefit from these measures in reducing the risks of serious problems like cancer and dementia. Let us know about some such measures suggested by the American Heart Association.
Focus on physical activity
It is very important to remain physically active to reduce the risks of heart disease. 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week can help protect you from heart disease.
Apart from this, consuming healthy food daily is also considered essential for heart health.
Researchers found that eating plant-based foods and avoiding added sugars and processed foods may help keep your heart healthy.
Smoking has also been seen to affect heart health. Everyone should keep their distance from this.
Keep weight under control
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your heart health. Researchers found that keeping track of body mass index (BMI) helps in keeping your weight under control.
Controlling weight can be beneficial in reducing many risk factors for heart health. Researchers found that people who are overweight may also have a higher risk of heart health complications.
Check blood pressure and cholesterol
To reduce heart problems, health experts recommend keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Blood pressure up to 120/80 mm Hg is considered ideal.
Apart from this, the risk of heart disease can be reduced by controlling the problem of cholesterol. Cholesterol can accumulate in blood vessels and obstruct blood flow to the heart.
(PC: Freepik)
