Is It Too Late To Prevent Heart Disease?
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It’s not a condition you can cure, but it is something you can prevent, and many prevention tactics can ease heart disease symptoms.
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is not a single disease. Instead, it’s a term used to describe a group of heart conditions with similar risk factors and symptoms that affect the heart. The four common groups of heart disease are coronary artery and vascular disease, heart rhythm disorders, structural heart disease, and heart failure.
The most commonly diagnosed heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD). This type of heart disease occurs when the coronary arteries develop plaque buildup, which can block blood from traveling to the heart. The plaque buildup comes primarily from cholesterol build and can narrow the artery walls over time.
Unfortunately, many people don’t have signs or symptoms of CAD during the early stages of the disease. Many people’s first sign is a heart attack, which comes with chest pain, lightheadedness, pain in the arms or shoulder, and shortness of breath. While anyone can develop CAD, it is most common among those who are physically inactive and smoke tobacco. You also have a higher risk if you have a family history of heart disease.
Tips For A Healthy Heart
It’s never too late to prevent heart disease. Heart disease is treatable with lifestyle changes and medications. However, the best way to maintain a healthy heart is to reduce your risk of heart disease by living a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Exercise
Physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for developing heart disease. Regular exercise can reduce risk by helping you maintain a healthy weight and strengthening your heart muscles. If you’re new to working out, start slow with 20 minutes two to three times a week. Eventually, you want to build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate to high-intensity workouts three to five times a week.
Diet
What you eat affects your heart. You want to minimize eating food high in cholesterol and trans fat. Reducing cholesterol and trans fat means limiting highly processed and fried foods. Instead, try incorporating more whole foods like fresh produce, lean meats, and whole grains. Yes, eating a whole-food diet takes more time prepping and cooking, but it will significantly improve your heart health, even if only a few days a week.
Limit Unhealthy Habits
There are a few unhealthy lifestyle habits that can increase your risk for heart disease, such as inactivity and poor diet, but the greatest habit you want to change is smoking. Smoking promotes plaque buildup, making it difficult for blood to flow freely throughout the body. Chemicals found in cigarettes can also weaken the body.
Doctor Appointments
Many heart diseases don’t exhibit signs or symptoms during the early stages of the condition, so you won’t know you have heart disease until something significant happens, like a heart attack. Doctors can test for “silent” heart disease signs and symptoms, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure. If these symptoms are present, your doctor can help you get them under control before they develop into heart disease.
How Visiting Angels Can Help
Living with a chronic condition like heart disease is challenging, but it isn’t something you have to go through alone. Whether a doctor recently diagnosed you with heart disease or you are working to build a healthier lifestyle to reduce your risk, Visiting Angels is here to help.
Visiting Angels is a locally owned and operated home care agency providing at-home assistance to seniors throughout Prince William County. We offer customizable services to ensure clients are safe and comfortable at home. Clients may request help with cooking, transportation, mobility, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and other nonmedical tasks.
Our Manassas office works with seniors throughout Prince William County, including Fort Belvoir and Lorton. You can learn more about our services by scheduling a complimentary consultation or contacting us with any questions.