How To Take Good Care of your Heart

Studies show that lack of sleep is bad for the heart. People who sleep six hours a day, three times a week or less are prone to develop heart diseases. This is alarming because the truth is, that the percentage of Americans getting adequate sleep has been dwindling for the past several years. No wonder, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America.

What causes people to sleep less? To some, it may be as daunting as problems at work, with relationships or financial stress. To some, it may be as trivial as technology – social media, games, or your favorite TV series.

But what can you do if your schedule simply does not give you the luxury of getting adequate sleep? Look to other ways you can do to take care of your heart. Here are some tips to help you take good care of your heart.

Eat food that’s healthy for the heart.

• Oatmeal – helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in our body and clears our arteries; contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium.
• Salmon – can keep us away from high blood pressure and blood clotting;  rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Nuts (Almonds, walnuts, Macadamia nuts) – promote the health of arterial linings and reduce the risk of blood clotting; contain omega-3 fatty acids; vitamin E; magnesium; fiber, and folate.
• Olive oil –  reduces the risk of developing heart disease by lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) level in our body.
• Avocado – lowers bad cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
• Berries – rich in anti-inflammatories that not only prevent heart disease but also reduce the risk of cancer.
• Spinach – reduces the risk of developing heart disease; contains a lot of lutein, folate, potassium, and fiber.

Exercise regularly.
Living an inactive lifestyle is one sure way of jeopardizing your heart’s health. Exercising regularly- at least 30 minutes per day at least 5 times per week improves circulation and heart health. Here’s how:

• Improves blood circulation thus reducing your risk for blood clotting.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• builds muscle mass
• lowers the level of bad cholesterol (LDL)
• increases the good cholesterol (HDL) level

But not just any exercise will do. Aerobic exercises like walking, running, swimming, biking, and dancing are the best types of exercises for the heart.

To ensure you’re on track with your heart health goals, check in with your health insurance plan provider for resources or advice tailored to your needs.

For more information on keeping your heart healthy contact your health insurance carrier.