Often we think that one’s
lifestyle is solely responsible for poor health. Apart from maintaining a heart
healthy lifestyle, it is equally important to live in a healthy environment, be
it at home, at work or in the community we live in.
A healthy life begins at
home, with simple changes in lifestyle like eating healthy foods, avoiding
oily, fatty foods, exercising daily, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, more
physical activity and simply being active.
Dr Sajy Kuruttukualam,
cardiologist, Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi, agrees. “When it comes to creating
a heart healthy environment, we need a multi-disciplinary approach, starting
with the government policy changes and stringent laws when it comes to smoking
and alcohol consumption,” he says.
According to him,
three major factors contribute to heart diseases: Air pollution, food pollution
and mind pollution. Leading a stress free life, regulating our food habits by
avoiding salty and junk foods can help keep the heart in shape. “In the same
way, although fitness and exercise is important, one must never overdo it.
Sudden severe exercise is dangerous and leads to heart problems. Instead,
exercising in a controlled and regulated manner keeps one fit and healthy,”
says Kuruttukulam.
Cardiovascular risks
Similarly, cardiovascular
health is an important aspect with regard to heart. Statistics say that
cardiovascular diseases are responsible for majority of deaths every year
making it the no.1 killer. It is caused by risk factors such as obesity,
cholesterol, hypertension, lack of physical activity and so on, which can be
preventable to a great extent.
“Of all the risk factors
related to heart, stress is the most dangerous one,” feels Dr Sony Joseph
Vadakel, consultant physician, Ernakulam Medical Centre. “A stressful life
leads to erratic eating habits, which affects the cholesterol level, blood
pressure, body weight and so on. Including more fish, vegetables and fruits in
our daily diet, reducing the intake of oil, and exercising daily will help
maintain an ideal body weight. This helps reduce the cardiovascular risks. To
sum up, a good positive thinking is a great stress buster,” says Vadakel.
It is high time we made
healthy choices in our daily lives when it comes to the matters of the heart.
For heart choices are not hard choices and can go a long way to keeping the
heart in shape.
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