Heart Attacks Don’t Know Age: Here’s How to Protect Yourself

In this day and age, just about everybody in the country knows that smoking is very dangerous for the heart and lungs. While that knowledge is just as important as ever, there are also other heart risks that Americans need to better understand. The fact that an organ the size of a fist is able to pump gallons of blood to keep the body alive is nothing short of a miracle, so you don’t want to accidentally make the heart’s job harder. In order to protect your heart and thus your life, try to work these tips into your daily routine.

Trade Sitting for Moving

More studies are showing that sitting for excessive amounts of time each day is actually associated to heart disease and the premature aging of arteries. One study of 2,000 adults using heart CT scans and physical activity records found that every hour of sitting per day equated to a 14 percent increase in coronary artery calcification, which is a sign of damaged heart arteries. Given how sedentary today’s society has become, you need to actively fight against the habit to sit by using a standing desk or setting a time to get up and move every 30 minutes.

Try to Get More Sleep

It might seem like sleep is the cure to everything, but it’s so highly recommended for good reason. Sleep is the body’s chance to regenerate, rejuvenate, and restore itself. Without that time, the body can’t function optimally. In fact, one study demonstrated that people sleeping poorly for less than six hours a night had a whopping 79 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease than those sleeping soundly for seven hours or more. Even if you can only get to bed one hour earlier each night, it could significantly strengthen your heart health.

Skip the Processed Red Meat

Bacon, hot dogs, and pepperoni might be classic American food staples, but they’re also heart attack instigators. Even the World Health Organization has made its statement on this matter. Heart disease and heart attacks are more likely for people whose diets are high in these processed red meats. Try to select other choices that will still satisfy you without placing you in the hospital.

With a few simple adjustments, you could give yourself many more years of life.