Ageing and Promoting Heart Health
Each day, our hearts pump millions of gallons of blood throughout our bodies delivering oxygen, fuel, hormones and other compounds as well as clearing away waste products produced from metabolic reactions. Although an impressive pump, the heart is vulnerable to forces which weaken other muscles such as aging, poor diet and lack of exercise, smoking, infection, unlucky genes etc – however its defenses against such threats include daily movement and cardiovascular exercise which offer powerful defense mechanisms against these challenges.
Lifestyle changes are one of the best investments you can make to ensure heart health in old age and beyond. Regular visits to your physician for monitoring and cardiac exams are important in detecting potential issues at their earliest stages, when they are easiest corrected with diet changes, lifestyle modifications or medications.
Attaining a heart-healthy lifestyle means cutting the amount of saturated fat you eat, quitting tobacco use and engaging in regular aerobic exercises such as walking or swimming – these steps help lower risk for high blood pressure, cholesterol and weight issues as well as prevent cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease.
If your family history includes heart disease, lifestyle factors can further reduce your risk. Discuss this information with a healthcare professional as well as any additional risk factors like having a condition such as diabetes or having someone in your family with congenital heart disease to develop an individual risk evaluation plan tailored specifically for you.