Tips For Healthy Heart: As the temperature drops, many of us begin to hibernate by staying indoors and eating warm comfort food and drinking hot beverages; however, our heart also requires some attention during this time of the year. Your heart is one of the most important organs that enables you to live comfortably; it should therefore be well taken care of when the weather is cold.
In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Pravin K Goel, Director of Interventional Cardiology, Medanta Lucknow listed essential ways to take care of your heart health in winter.
Ways To Take Care Of Your Heart In Winter
Stay Warm
This could sound like a riddle, but maintaining proper body temperature for your body is very useful for the heart. Exposure to low temperatures reduces blood flow through the arteries as they often get constricted from cold and that may aggravate your blood pressure. So make sure you layer up to help keep warm by wearing a warm hat, insulated shoes or boots and a neck muffler and gloves as these are the areas from where you lose heat.
Exercise Regularly
It is fun to stay active and this will help maintain your heart health throughout the year. But do avoid walking against the cold wind in the early hours of the morning. A walk under bright winter sunshine is quite comfortable.
At home you can attempt yoga, dancing or even a workout video on YouTube can be attempted. If the weather is good, take a walk to get the fresh air and sun tan while providing an excellent workout to your heart.
Eat Heart-Healthy Diet
The kind of foods we fancy in winter include those with high salt, fat and sugar content which are also some of the foods that place extra demands on the heart. Rather, eat health products which include fruits, veggies and lean meats and avoid processed foods.
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Heart-Healthy Diet (Image Credits: Canva)
Eliminate Alcohol And Cigarettes
Winter is good for a party but do not forget that alcohols only in very modest quantities could be helpful for the heart. Consuming spirits in more than modest amounts increases your blood pressure and also the amount of work the heart has to do, which over time will do some damage. It’s high time to quit smoking and must know that your heart will render a lot of gratitude for all the good you did to it.
Manage Stress
This season often brings stress because of many holidays, holiday meals, and short days. Limit stress processing because your heart will require some time to work on your new skin, maybe by watching your favourite show or listening to your favourite tune. Perhaps you might use meditation, breathing exercises, or even a warm water bath to calm the mind and physics of the body.
Get Your Check-Ups
So do not neglect those check-ups that you make with your doctor once a year. It is very important to take periodical examinations to control the state of the heart and detect problems in advance if any occur. Your doctor may prescribe some tests to check your vitals or call in a cardiogram to check the condition of your heart.
Reach Out To Loved Ones
The ways to preserve the health of the heart are as simple as staying in touch with the family. We also learnt that lack of companionship can lead to increased risks to our heart health. Therefore, take a little time out to call a friend, or go do something that you like doing. To maintain a healthy heart, you need to ensure that you do not have a distorted perspective of life.
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