Cardiologist explains change to improve your heart health
Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to lower your risk of heart disease and enhance your heart health. These include altering your diet, exercise regimen, and quitting harmful habits.
Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, said diet is "a huge piece of the puzzle" for maintaining a healthy heart. Speaking on the Living Well podcast, he revealed that many doctors are now recommending a Mediterranean-style lifestyle.
"So really avoiding things like fried foods, a lot of sweets, soda, processed foods, a ton of empty carbohydrates, things like pasta, rice, and really incorporating more things like fruits and vegetables and nuts and cooking with olive oil instead of butter," he advised. Dr Farzad also suggested consuming more lean meats such as fish, chicken, and turkey instead of red meat.
Exercise is another crucial factor in heart health, according to Dr Farzad. "I tell people to get at least five days a week where you're getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise where you're getting your heart rate up," he said, reports Surrey Live.
He cautioned that you've got to consider your own "limitations and circumstances", since not every tip will suit everyone. "We have to be really realistic about these things when we talk to patients and find a balance that's going to work for them and be practical," he said.
There are certain lifestyle tweaks recommended, but there are also nasty habits to kick - one of the worst being smoking. Quitting cigarettes is probably the "most important, biggest thing" you can do health-wise, Dr Farzad said.
Stress emerges as another heavy hitter when it comes to wellbeing. "I think there are pretty clear physical correlations with how stress can impact your hormone levels, how that interplay can definitely have implications for things like cardiovascular disease," Dr Farzad explained. "I think it absolutely plays into someone's physical health, cardiovascular health and so I think it's a big part of what we have to address with our patients as well."
If you're wondering whether it's time to consult a heart specialist, Dr Farzad says anyone with a history of cardiac disease should go for routine check-ups. People dealing with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, or a smoking past — all red flags for heart problems — should also ensure a cardiologist appointment is on their calendar.
If you're worried about your heart health or experiencing symptoms that could be related to heart issues, it might be beneficial to consult a cardiologist.
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