The best things you can do for your heart today

Choma, did you know that your heart beats about 100 000 times a day and that if you had to measure the amount of blood pumped through your body in a lifetime it would equal to about the same as water from a tap left running for 45 years? Those sound like hard to believe facts but your heart is an amazing organ and one of the most important ones for your entire body. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your heart because essentially, a healthy heart equals a heathy life! Both emotional and physical health is important for keeping your heart healthy so here are a few healthy things you can do for your heart today.

Eat healthier

An unhealthy lifestyle (especially a poor diet) can lead to heart disease Choma. It’s a scary fact but you need to eat healthy in order to make sure your heart stays healthy. Don’t eat too much junk food, don’t eat foods that are too high in fat and cut down on salt and sugar. You can start that today Choma. If you’re craving something sweet, have a healthy fruit instead. If you want a snack, get some unsalted nuts. Just by cutting down on some things now, you’re already making a better decision for your heart. Remember to also drink lots of water every day.

Get in the habit of exercising

Choma, just a 20 minute walk a day can help you feel more energized and help you towards living a healthy lifestyle. Or, to make it easier, do 10 minutes of exercise (like stretching, walking, doing arm circles or maybe even pushups) 3 times a day, 5 times a week. Summer is also here, so it’s swimming season and also time to work on that summer body.Exercise is also a great way to work on your emotions and emotional wellbeing.

Laugh more

Laughing is good for your heart. It helps strengthen your immune system, boosts your energy and even protects you from stress. When you laugh, you release hormones called endorphins, which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. They can help protect your body by lowering your blood pressure, reducing your stress levels and increasing your blood flow (which decreases your risk for heart disease). So do yourself a favour Choma and put on a good comedy, watch a video, have a good laugh with your friends or read up on a few jokes. Spend time with those that you care about. Your heart and soul will thank you.

Get some sleep

There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep Choma. The ideal hours of sleep you need is about 7 to 8 hours a night. Sleeping too much (over nine hours) or too little (less than 6 hours) can be bad for your health. Sleeping too little is actually worse and can lead to heart problems. So one of the best things you can do for your heart today is to make sure you get enough sleep.

Avoid smoking and drinking

This one is an obvious one Choma because we know that smoking and also drinking too much is bad for your overall health. Smoking damages your arteries, lungs and reduces the oxygen levels in your blood, increasing your blood pressure. This is what increases your risk for a heart attack later in life Choma. So one of the best things you can do for your heart is to quit smoking. Too much alcohol can cause heart muscle damage, cause your heart to beat abnormally and increase your risk of high blood pressure.

Trust me Choma, even making little changes for your physical and emotional heart health will make a huge difference for your overall health. A heart-healthy life is a happy life!

Remember, you can send me a message to talk to me about anything. So if you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).