Genetics Aren't Everything. Get To The Heart Of Your Health

It is difficult to find the “heart” in the midst of all we do. We are a whirlwind of activity, barely stopping to consider what affects genetics and the way they interact with our quality of life.

The heart is an incredibly powerful and resilient muscle in our bodies that pumps blood every single second of the day. Although genetics do play a part in whether or not you develop any heart issues, it is more likely due to your lifestyle choices and daily habits that pose a greater threat to the health of your heart.

While heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, your heart is greatly affected by lifestyle choices. This includes how much you move every day, stress levels, food and drink choices and your general outlook on life.

So how can we be more self-aware of our lifestyle decisions and how this affects our heart and wellbeing?

Let’s break it down with 6 lifestyle tips that can have a positive effect on your heart and overall health.

6 Ways To Make Sure Your Lifestyle Promotes A Healthy Heart

1) Eating A Healthy Diet
Have you ever heard the phrase that your diet is the best medication you can give yourself? Well, it’s true. A healthy diet is your best weapon against illnesses. Incorporating a diet that includes nutrient-rich foods that have vitamins, minerals, fiber over nutrient-poor foods with high amounts of trans fats will positively impact your overall health and reduce your chances of getting cancer or diseases.

2) Getting 8 Hours of Sleep Every Night

Why is it so important to aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night? Getting enough sleep is just as important for your health as it is to eat a balanced diet and exercise daily. Sleep deprivation can put your heart and safety at risk. When you do not receive enough sleep, you put yourself at risk for negative health effects, such as increased risk of heart disease, depression, weight gain, inflammation, and sickness.

3) Exercise Regularly
Often when we think of exercise that will positively affect our health and lifestyle, our minds are filled with sweaty gyms and grueling exercises. However, this is not the case, as research has shown that 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep your weight at a healthy level. And something IS better than nothing.

4) Practice Yoga and Meditation

Yoga and meditation have been proven to boost not only your heart, but your overall well being. In addition, this practice has also been proven to reduce the risk of heart attack. You might be wondering how? A regular practice of yoga helps build inner strength, relieve stress, lower blood pressure and induce better sleep. Yoga and meditation also reduce levels of cortisol in your body, which is known to put your health at risk.

5) Limit Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and increase your chances of getting heart disease, stroke and cancer. Overconsumption of alcohol also contributes to irregular heart beats, obesity, alcoholism and increased suicide rates.

6) Quit Smoking

We all know that smoking has zero benefits to our health, but how what are the benefits to quitting smoking entirely? According to the CDC, quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their overall health.

Quitting smoking can:

• Improve health status and enhance quality of life.3

• Reduce the risk of premature death and can add as much as 10 years to life expectancy.3

• Reduce the risk for many adverse health effects, including poor reproductive health outcomes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer.3

We understand that change is never easy. However, with preventable measures and the mindset to take action, your heart and body will thank you for years to come.

Ready to take action?

Check out more free health and wellness resources on our blog and youtube channel.

Vibrant Yoga is based in Chicago and serves the Chicagoland area as well as virtually anywhere with practical tools and guidance to individual wellness for a healthier lifestyle.

We offer on-site & virtual yoga, meditation & wellness workshops to individuals and companies. We envision a world where every individual, employee, and business owner has the freedom and resources to maintain vibrant health that positively impacts their mental and physical well-being.

Bibliography

1) Leech, Joe. “10 Top Benefits of Getting More Sleep.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 Jan. 2022, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important#The-bottom-line

2) 3 Ways Meditation Can Help Your Heart, Body and Mind, Pennmedicine.org, https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/april/3-ways-meditation-can-help-your-heart-body-and-mind.

3) “Benefits of Quitting.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Sept. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/benefits/index.htm#:~:text=improves%20health%20status%20and%20enhances,(COPD)%2C%20and%20cancer. 

4) “Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention.” Www.heart.org, American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention

5) “Smoking and Your Heart.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/smoking-and-your-heart#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20quitting%20also%20will,death%20from%20other%20chronic%20diseases.