Take Care of your Heart
Heart disease is a major chronic illness in India. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Some risk factors associated with heart disease, such as being overweight and smoking, can be controlled through lifestyle and behavior choices. We at Aparnaa World School, the best boarding school in Odisha, thought to let our family of students, teachers & parents know how to take care of your precious heart.
Steps to a heart-healthy lifestyle
Consider the following steps to help live a heart-healthy lifestyle:
Get Active
Exercise is an important part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise can help keep arteries flexible and open, reducing the chance for blockage. Talk to your cardiologist and a psychologist about an exercise plan that is right for you. To get started, try taking a short walk or using the stairs instead of the elevator to get started.
Eat well.
A healthy diet is essential to maintaining your new lifestyle. Focus on developing healthy eating habits that become part of your everyday life. For example, choose grilled instead of fried food.
Manage stress
Research shows that stress can contribute to many different health problems, including increased risk of heart disease. Regulating stress is an important part of preventing and treating heart disease. Studies have shown that if you learn to manage your stress you can better control your heart rate and blood pressure.
Recognize how you deal with your emotions
After a heart attack, you may experience depression, anxiety or added stress. It is important to acknowledge and address any negative emotions and distress to help with your recovery and maintain good health.
Accept support
Getting help from friends and family can go a long way in aiding your recovery. Research shows that people with greater social support build their resilience and experience less depression and anxiety. Friends and family are often eager to offer support, but are not always sure how they can help. It can be a huge boost when others run a few errands for you, take you to your doctor’s appointments or just lend you their ears.
Avoid burnout
Keeping up with your prescriptions, exercising regularly, and making healthy food choices can feel overwhelming. Research shows that people with heart disease may experience burnout at some point. Burnout can make you feel mentally and physically drained and can negatively affect your efforts to change your lifestyle. To lessen burnout, keep in mind that small steps can lead to long-term change. Remind yourself that you are moving in a healthier direction and take time to celebrate your efforts.
