Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s No. 1 killer. Combined, conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels kill more than 20.5 million every year, many from low- and middle-income countries. World Heart Day was designed to bring this number down. And there’s reason for hope! Approximately 80% of premature deaths from CVD are preventable. By making small changes to your lifestyle, you can help move the needle. With the help of the experts at the Parkview Heart Institute, we picked some of our favorite strategies for a healthier, happier heart!
8 ways to be better to your heart
No. 1 – Enjoy at least one plant-powered meal weekly
Transitioning to a plant-based diet – tips and tricks
Ten weeks to plant-powered eating – Week 10
Try varying your protein sources for improved health
The cardiovascular benefits of plant-based eating
No. 2 – Join a support group
Parkview now offers heart support groups for men and women. Learn more about the support groups at the Parkview Heart Institute
No. 3 – Try breathwork and visualization exercises for stress relief
How can deep breathing help with stress?
Calm is just around the corner
Four ways to calm your stress hormones
No. 4 – Gather your family health history
No. 5 – Move your body for 30 minutes every day
The many health benefits of regular exercise
A helpful explanation of heart rate zones during exercise
Women and heart health: Movement
How to exercise at home after a recent heart event
Small steps to start getting active
The many health benefits of walking
No. 6 – If insomnia or sleep apnea is keeping you up, get a sleep study
Recommendations to relieve acute insomnia
A closer look at in-home sleep studies
What’s the correlation between sleep apnea and heart disease?
No. 7 – Extinguish your tobacco habit
Smoking and your cardiovascular health
Ten new arguments for giving up smoking in the new year
No. 8 – Avoid ultra-processed, prepackaged foods
Exploring the disease-fighting benefits of a whole-food plant-based diet
Eat a variety of nutritious foods every day
Bonus! Watch the video and pass it on.
Find more resources for heart healthy living by visiting us here.
