Boosting your heart health is important, particularly when you are over the age of 40. I recently lost my first and best friend to heart disease, and advocating for improved heart health is now my life’s mission.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2022 alone, 702,880 people died from heart disease in the U.S. (1 in every 5 deaths).
I recently received an email from my insurance provider, Providence Health, which offered up the following three ways to improve your heart health that I am passing along:
- Heart-Healthy Diet – Boost your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources. Reduce your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and salt. Check out our nutrition category on this website for more information.
- Regular Exercise – Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of hard exercise every week. Do resistance training at least 2 days a week. You can check out our cardio and weightlifting categories for more articles on both topics.
- Manage Stress – Chronic stress may contribute to the development of heart disease. Consider incorporating stress-reducing activities such as meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or my personal favorite, gardening.
Take your heart health seriously. If you suspect that you are experiencing poor heart health, do something about it immediately, including talking to your doctor about it.
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Disclaimer: The contents of this article and this website are not meant to substitute for the professional advice of a doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer. This content is provided as an educational tool to help people on their fitness journeys. While we strive to research topics as much as possible and provide useful and accurate information to the best of our abilities, we also strongly recommend talking to your doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer before starting any workout, therapeutic, or nutritional regimen, as each individual’s needs and situations vary depending on the person.