Thousands of deaths each year are caused by some kind of heart and circulatory disease, whether that’s coronary heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, vascular dementia or stroke. Many people suffering with heart disease will also suffer from other health conditions too, which can sometimes be linked.
While awareness of heart conditions and ways to improve heart health has improved, there is always more to be done to prevent deaths caused by heart diseases. This should ideally involve increased learning to inform people of the causes of heart conditions as well as more holistic strategies to improve lifestyle habits in younger individuals.
If you are concerned about your heart health, or that of a loved one, there are many ways to prevent heart attacks or angina, and practical techniques for maintaining a heart healthy. Below are some of our top tips.
Get on top of the basics
The hardest things to implement are sometimes the basics that you probably already know. To keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases, adhere to the following best practices:
- Eat as healthily as possible, reducing bad fat, bad carbs salt and sugar, and increasing fibre, natural foods and ingredients rich in nutrients and vitamins.
- Eat portions that are recommended for your height and size
- Find a way to exercise regularly, which will help you to maintain a healthy weight and reduce your blood pressure
- Avoid drinking heavily and smoking
- If you have any existing health conditions like diabetes monitor them with care
There is a link between depression and cardiovascular disease
According to the Cleveland Clinic there is a link between depression and CVD. For people with heart disease, depression can increase the risk of an adverse cardiac event such as a heart attack or blood clots. For people who do not have heart disease, depression can also increase the risk of a heart attack and development of coronary artery disease.
In one landmark study, the continued presence of depression after recovery increased the risk of death (mortality) to 17 percent within 6 months after a heart attack (versus 3 percent mortality in heart attack patients who didn’t have depression).
Often underlying someone’s ability to follow the basic rules of good health is someone’s mental fortitude and motivation to do so. Eating healthily, exercising, and drinking less are all so much harder to do when you are suffering from depression or feeling stressed.
To achieve sustainable heart health, approaching things more holistically is often the best approach. While this doesn’t need to involve seeing a therapist, it should take into consideration how you are feeling about certain worries in your life which could be the barrier stopping you from really achieving strong heart health.
Taking some time to yourself, finding a lifestyle balance that works for you, or investing in yourself through new experiences or self-improvement activities are all ways that you can improve mental health. With a wider goal of better health (physically and mentally), it can be easier to make important changes in your life and cut out unhealthy habits.
Get clarity about your heart’s current condition
A better understanding of the risks when it comes to your heart’s health and the required changes you could make to keep you healthy are often just an appointment away. Speaking with a professional can put things into focus for you in a way that reading a blog or talking with a friend simply can’t. There are a variety of cardiology tests that can tell you exactly what the picture looks like and give you a framework for how to improve your health.
Get a personalised health plan
If you are concerned about your heart health or if you are experiencing worrying symptoms, we would recommend that you speak to a professional as soon as you can. One of the most effective ways to avoid heart attacks is to address the risk factors through an early diagnosis and a treatment plan that is personalized to you.
We offer a number of heart screening services and cardiology tests that can give you the clarity you need to make some important life changes. For more information and to book a consultation click here or call 01925 748 245.