Healthy diet and exercise can help keep away heart problems
Valentine’s Day is upon us and there are ways to stay heart healthy.
“Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and in Utah,” said registered nurse Becky DeWald.
If we don’t do something about it we could have heart problems and this is something that crosses over all age groups for the young and old, said Tony Lamarra, personal trainer at The Sports Academy.
The most important way to keep from having heart problems is to keep a healthy diet. That means staying away from fatty foods or foods high in cholesterol and oil. Smoking is a huge factor in an unhealthy heart and is best to not do it at all. Stress and hypertension are key factors in having a poor heart, Lamarra said.
If you are worried that you have a poor heart, the best thing to do is to see a doctor. The second thing to do would be to talk to a trainer and set up a workout program that would include a cardiovascular program.
If you can’t do either of these things, it is best to watch what you eat and include a cardiovascular workout in your life at least two to three times a week for 15 to 30 minutes. This could involve running, walking or hiking. Weight training can also help heart strength by making it stronger, Lamarra said.
Heart disease can also be attributed to loss of a relationship or someone who has poor relationship skills, said Martin Sullivan, a cardiologist at Duke University, on the Smart Marriages Web site.
The correlation between heart disease and psychosocial skills are very strong, Sullivan said.
Some of the risk factors that contribute to heart disease are: social isolation, sleep disorder and depression and work stress.
The most important thing to remember is to have an overall lifestyle in general.
“Healthier lifestyles do make a difference,” DeWald said.