How Boomers Can Keep Heart Healthy

When people talk about retirement, most of them would focus of the retirement money. I would agree money is essential for a quality retirement but the most important is health. Without good health retirement life is miserable. People would right away realize its importance if they spend some time in the hospital with those people sick undergoing great pain. Health is priceless. We are not aware of its value most of the time. We value it only when we lose it. It is is better we do something proactive to keep our health in good shape. Today, I would like to focus on heart health.

Here below are some suggestions:

Don’t Do the Following

Don’t smoke and quit your smoking if you are a smoker. Cigarettes smokers have a much higher risk for developing heart disease. It is two to three times that of a non-smoker.

Don’t over stress yourself. Plenty of research studies show that stresses may induce heart conditions and heart attack. It is always good to participate in social functions that reduce and manage stress, e.g., yoga, physical exercise, line-dance.

Don’t take too much red meats including beef, pork and internal organs.

Don’t take sugar, sodium and fat in excessive quantities, avoid them.

Do the Following

Take your medical checkup at least annually. If you have some forms of chronic disease talk to your family doctor, may be you need to have your medical checkup every six months or more frequent basis.

Take your medicines regularly so as to control your blood pressure adequately. Blood pressure tells us how well your heart works. If you have consistent high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medicines to lower and maintain an appropriate level. It is also important to control your cholesterol level because cholesterol level can be a risk factor to heart disease. You should have this checked regularly by your doctor and treat the condition with appropriate medicines.

Control your body weight. This is another important cardiac risk factor. If you are overweight or obese, you may have other health risks. When obesity is joined with factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the risks are high and dangerous. Take steps to lose weight and lessen your risk for heart disease.

Workout / exercise regularly

Inactivity of both mind and body is another cardiac risk factor. Engage yourself in some of activity such as mall walking. It must be routine, quick and brisk.

Take plenty of vegetables and fruits

Choose a diet that contains whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables with high fiber content and rich in phytonutrients.

Eat fish regularly. They are rich in omega 3 which is excellent for our heart and blood vessels.