Show your Heart Some Love

Heart Health

You can never have too many tips for heart health. Thanks to advances in modern medicine and disease prevention, many of us are living longer, healthier lives. But heart disease remains a major threat. It’s the leading cause of death worldwide. That’s why you should be thinking about heart health — especially if there’s a history of heart problems in your family. You can reduce your risk of heart disease in several different ways:

Tips for Heart Health

Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly and if you have high blood pressure, stay on your treatment plan.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of heart disease. Ask your physician if weight loss could benefit your overall health, and if so, how much you should lose. Avoid fad diets — ask your physician for a sensible approach to losing weight over time — and keeping it off.

Get enough exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes per day. Walking is a great exercise. Amp up the benefits by walking with a friend or two. If you are unable to exercise, try a chi machine to promote movement and circulation throughout the body.

Eat a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit saturated fats and high levels of sodium and sugar. Shift your diet away from processed foods. Select a quality daily supplement, like those offered by Nature’s Sunshine, to fill any dietary gaps. If you’re also looking for a heart-healthy quality supplement containing mega-3 essential fatty acids, Nature’s Sunshine Krill Oil with K2 is made with Antarctic Krill, which provides a highly bioavailable source of both EPA and DHA.

Get regular cholesterol checks. Work with your physician to keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. You also may want to consider Nature’s Sunshine CardioxLDL, a unique and powerful herbal formula designed to help modulate cholesterol oxidation and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Quit smoking. If you smoke, stop.

Limit alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to heart disease.

Symptoms to Watch For

According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is often not diagnosed until an individual experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmia. Here are the symptoms for each:

Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).

Heart failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins.

Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease. Talk to your physician about your risk and consider taking steps to reduce your risk through lifestyle changes.