Healthy Heart = Happy Heart
February is National Heart Health Month, so we’re diving into how to keep your heart healthy and strong and some key symptoms associated with heart conditions to look out for….
We all know that our hearts are essential for delivering nutrients and oxygen to our major organs as well as removing waste products and it’s for these and many other reasons that it’s important to keep your heart healthy. If disease or illness affect your heart your other organs will not be able to receive enough blood.
Some things you can do to ensure good cardiovascular health include:
Keeping active and maintaining a healthy weight
Eating a heart heart healthy diet including plenty of fresh fruit and veg, reduced sugar, fat and alcohol
Managing stress levels
getting enough sleep
stopping smoking
keeping control of cholesterol and blood sugar
As well as doing all these things, it’s important to be aware of certain diseases associated with the heart and be able to recognise some of the symptoms.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs when the natural flow of oxygen rich blood is blocked or reduced. This puts a strain on the heart and can lead to the following:
Angina
Heart Attacks
Heart Failure
Whilst there are many causes of CVD, some key causes which are controllable by us include:
smoking,
high blood pressure and cholesterol
inactivity
All of which are things we can combat and will lead to a normal and healthy functioning of the heart.
It is also important to be aware of symptoms of CVD so that you can immediately call the doctor or the emergency services. Symptoms include:
Shortness of Breath
Chets Pain
Pain that spreads to shoulders, neck and arms
Nausea or Vomiting
Swelling in the ankles, legs or feet
