Your heart is one of your vital organs, so it’s essential to keep it functioning properly. Unfortunately, many Americans aren’t sure where to begin when they want to keep their hearts healthy. If you live in Cincinnati, and you’ve been wondering about the steps you can take to keep your cardiovascular system operating on all cylinders, here are a few tips:

Change your diet – Switching to healthier foods is one of the first changes doctors recommend to people at risk for heart disease. Changing eating habits can be particularly difficult, but what better motivation can you have than keeping your heart healthy? Start by packing your diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats, and limit your consumption of cholesterol. You’ll also want to keep an eye on the fats you are consuming because some are better than others. For example, using canola oil when pan-frying is much healthier for your heart than using a pat of butter.

Stop smoking – If there weren’t already enough medical concerns to deter you from lighting up the next cigarette, here’s one more. Even if you don’t have other heart disease risk factors such as being overweight, eating fatty foods, or having high blood pressure, smoking increases your risk of contracting the disease. Even worse, smoking might hinder your other efforts to make your lifestyle more heart-friendly, hampering your breathing and decreasing your tolerance for exercise. If you can kick this habit, you’ll enjoy a whole new lease on life.

Increase your physical activity – As people in Cincinnati and across the nation become increasingly more sedentary at work and home, they’re putting their hearts at risk. Most people understand that exercise is beneficial to the heart and the body as a whole, but it can seem difficult to work in the time for physical activity. Fortunately, reducing your risk for heart disease can be as simple as spending 30 minutes a day exercising, whether you choose to walk, jog, or complete house chores, such as mowing the lawn or pulling weeds from the garden. Every time you choose to get off the couch, you’re taking a step toward a healthier life!

Manage your stress – The correlation between heightened stress levels and heart issues is particularly well known, and for good reason. Stress can take a toll on the body in many physical and mental ways, but it’s virtually impossible to avoid stress when leading a busy life. Perhaps you can work in a few minutes every day to relax and put the worries of the day on the back burner for a while. You can also reduce stress levels by cutting down on alcohol and caffeine consumption and by making sure to get in a good laugh during the day.

Although taking any of these steps will require some effort and dedication, the rewards are well worth any trouble. Not only can you make your heart healthier, but you can vastly improve your overall lifestyle by making you a more active, happier person.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health and wellness.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health and http://www.healthgrades.com/group-directory/ohio-oh/cincinnati/laser-spine-institute-f5104ec6 wellness.

Author Bio: Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health and wellness.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: health, wellness, heart health, heart disease, health tips