We know all too well about the importance of looking after ourselves in our later years. Thanks to advancements in medicine and the spreading of good dietary information, we are well informed on the types of lifestyle choices we need to make in order to lead happy and healthy lives. Today, we are going to talk about the heart. We all need a heart to live, and with heart disease considered a major killer amongst unhealthy adults, a bit of advice on what we can do to improve our heart’s health will go a long way. So, if you want good advice on what you can do to keep your ticker ticking over, read on to find out more!

Cardiovascular Exercise

Research has proven that taking regular exercise that gets your heart beating and your lungs moving is excellent for your health in the long term. Activities like running and swimming are perfect for this, but if you read some of the expert advice, you’ll see no end to what you can do to get your heart active. If you’re someone who doesn’t exercise regularly, this might seem daunting in the first instance. Just getting some small exercise into your routine in the first place, but if you start small, the benefits can add years to your life!

Group motivation

It can be hard to motivate yourself to get into a routine of exercise that promotes your cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that getting other people involved and working out as a group will make you more predisposed to keeping up the activity. We mentioned the different types of sports that lend themselves well to your cardiovascular health above, some of which are those you can do with a friend or as part of a team. So whether you want to take up regular 5-a-sides or have a walking buddy you meet regularly, having that connection to someone other than yourself will be good motivation to keep up your routine!

Heart-healthy foods

The last few decades have been revealing in showing us the long-term effects of eating heavily processed foods. Suppose your diet is high in saturated fats or disproportionate amounts of carbohydrates. In that case, you could be doing damage to your heart and increasing your likelihood of a heart attack in later life. Thankfully, there are some brilliant resources available online that can guide you on the way to a healthy heart and a better diet. If you stick to those foods that are proven to be beneficial for your heart, you will lose weight and lead an altogether healthier lifestyle.

Medical contacts

Prevention and catching issues early is always one of the best ways to continually ensure that your heart is healthy. Stay in regular touch with your GP to identify any problems with your heart and general circulation before they become more serious medical issues. You might be interested in trying a Transthoracic Echocardiogram to visualise the function and structure of your heart valves and chambers. Cardiologists can use this procedure to investigate murmurs or anything else linked to heart disease.

We hope this article has helped show you the various steps you can undertake to have a healthy heart and ultimately live a long and happy life!