To say that the heart is an important part in the human body is an understatement. It’s practically what keeps us alive. Yet it’s a shame that this organ is often neglected by many of us as we go through our unhealthy lifestyles. Keeping your heart healthy is not as difficult as you think. Here some everyday things that you can do to keep this one organ in tip top shape.
Laugh out loud
You know what they say, “Laughter is the best medicine.” And in several instances, it truly is. When it comes to protecting the heart, laughter could indeed be a great remedy. It is said to improve the function of blood vessels and increase blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. According to a study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack. The result of the study shows that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. In situational questions asked to 300 participants, half of which had either suffered a heart attack or had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery and the other half had no heart disease history, it was concluded that people with heart disease were less likely to recognize humor or use it to get out of uncomfortable situations. So before you frown at a waiter for spilling your drink, try seeing the comical side of it and just laugh it out loud!
Share a hug
If you think hugging eases your tension and calms your nerve, then you are right. According to a study reported at the American Psychosomatic Society, a brief hug and ten minutes of hand holding with a romantic partner greatly reduce the harmful physical effects of stress. This is the result of a study conducted by researchers from the University of North Carolina with over a hundred couples. 100 of the couples sat together for ten minutes, holding hands, then they embraced for 20 seconds. The other 85 couples rested quietly without their partners. All the participants were then asked to speak about a recent event that made them stressed or angry. Heart rates and systolic blood pressure significantly rose higher among the no-contact group compared to the hand-holding group. To put it simply, an intimate hug with your romantic partner before you head to work “could carry over and protect you throughout the day,” as shared by psychologist Karen Grewen.
Sing a song
For many, singing is a good exercise to de-stress. It’s something you can do and enjoy everyday. And this may prove effective in keeping the heart healthy as shown in different studies. “The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting. Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being,” says Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London. A joint Harvard and Yale study also revealed that singing could help you live longer. The study concluded that this was because singing promoted both a healthy heart and an enhanced mental state.
Eat right
Something that has been promoted by many health experts and nutritionists, eating right will contribute positively to the well being of your heart. Go for food rich in Omega-3, like oatmeal, salmon, walnuts, and even red wine. Avoid the junk and get loaded with heart-healthy nutrients fruits and vegetables that protect your cardiovascular system. “You can definitely reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by eating these foods every day,” says Julia Zumpano, RD, LD, a dietitian with the Preventive Cardiology Center at The Cleveland Clinic.
Get physical
Perhaps one of the more challenging activities that we owe to our heart is getting physically active. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be catching your breath all the time, there are actually many activities that you can do to move around, like golf. This is the ideal sport for you if you want to keep your health healthy without sweating a lot. You can perform up to four kilometers of walking just by going around the golf course. So ditch the golf cart and caddy and enjoy your very own clubs with customized grips. Your strength and fitness will improve by simply walking around pulling and carrying your clubs.
Author Bio:
Amanda Smith is a blogger based in San Diego, California. She loves writing about technology and gadgets, travel and arts, health and wellness, and just about anything that tickles her fancy. When she’s not writing, she’s busy catching up on her favorite sitcoms with her yellow Labrador, Chandler Tribbiani. You can catch more of her works at her gang’s hangout, wordbaristas.com.
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