With all the love in the air this month, it’s a good time to ask yourself how your heart is doing. As cardiovascular disease is on the rise, it’s important to remember that there are many small changes you can make in your day to ensure that your heart is being cared for.
Here are a few tips to help show your heart some love:
- Get tested: High blood pressure and high cholesterol are key players in determining if you are at risk for heart disease. Knowing where your levels are is important as you can decrease both of them with the right diet: Lower salt intake, decrease fatty processed foods, reduce sugar and increase fiber intake can help lower both.
- Exercise: Regular exercise has proven to show multiple health benefits in individuals.Whether it be to reduce stress and anger, manage weight or attend a social event, exercise is a great way to ensure your heart is receiving the training it needs to keep on pumping!
- Eat a healthy diet: Food plays a significant role in how our bodies function. Fueling our bodies with healthy whole grains, fresh fruit/veggies, lean meats and limiting processed refined foods gives us the energy and building blocks to keep us happy and healthy.
- Manage Stress: Stress can put a damper on anyones mood. Knowing you are stressed and finding ways to cope with it is a step towards managing it. There are many ways to incorporate healthy de-stressing options into your day. It can be as simple as taking a walk around the block during lunch, talking to a close friend, a yoga class (or at home), getting a massage, writing in a journal, taking a fitness class or taking a dip in the pool or the bath.
Starting out small can make significant changes in your body, so don’t forget that the small things matter and keep that heart happy!
Our Team Can Help you Get on Track
By: Kristine Cline | Registered Massage Therapist (Collegiate Sports Medicine, Red Deer AB)