Treating your heart well is key to a long, healthy life. Building a stronger, healthier heart is a long-term goal that requires long-term commitment. Prioritize managing stress, eating well and not smoking. The heart is the workhorse of the human body, and it is often taken for granted — until something goes wrong.
Like any muscle, the heart can be strengthened through lifestyle choices and management of risk factors. Some risk factors like gender, age and family history can’t be changed, but there are many other factors where there is potential to intervene.
Heart-healthy tips include:
• If you smoke, build a relationship with your doctor and be honest about your lifestyle. You can work together to help you become a former smoker.
• Find healthy outlets to reduce stress, such as regular exercise, which will have multiple health benefits.
• Make healthy diet choices as often as you can. Try simple changes, such as reducing portion sizes and swapping one meal a day for something healthier.
