As much as 80 percent of premature heart disease is preventable by making specific lifestyle choices. Some strategies, such as exercising and managing weight, are well known. "A small change in your everyday routine can potentially have a big impact in the 1ong run," says preventive cardiologist (心脏病学家) Dr. Beth Abramson, a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Get eight hours of sleep. "When you're not rested, everything that happens in your life is a lot more stressful," says Dr. Arya Sharma, founder of the Canadian Obesity Network. If we're short of sleep, our bodies also have more difficulty controlling blood pressure, inflammation and blood sugar levels.
Engage in volunteer work. Research published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2016 showed that a feeling of purpose in 1ife is linked to a lower likelihood of heart attack and stroke. "We know that loneliness is a risk factor for heart health," adds Sharma. "Volunteering gets you out of the house and creates a social network."
A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that healthy people who skipped breakfast were almost three times more likely to have heart disease six years later than those who had a substantial morning meal. One possible reason: "If you're eating a proper breakfast, you're less likely to be hungry later and make poor food choices," says Abramson. "We need to eat a balanced diet as part of a healthy lifestyle."
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A. Eat breakfast. B. But others may not have crossed your mind. C. Volunteering might even increase your physical activity. D. Choose whole-grain, low-fat breakfast foods and include fruit. E. These factors can all have an impact on heart and blood health. F. Eat healthy food rich in protein and fiber but low in fat and sugar G. Doing good for others helps your self-esteem and relieves stress. |
