Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in the United Kingdom, and is also a major killer worldwide. CHD is caused by fatty deposits building up in a person’s coronary arteries and can lead to symptoms including heart attacks, angina, and heart failure. The chances are that you’re already aware of many of the key contributing lifestyle factors which cause people to develop CHD, such as smoking, high salt intake, and consuming foods high in saturated fats.
At this year’s European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona we took the opportunity to ask cardiologists for other top tips they recommend for a healthy heart. The results were much more holistic than we anticipated and we have compiled some of our favourites below:
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“Get lots of sleep!”
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“Sleep well, eat well, exercise regularly, spend more time with the family and enjoy life. We have only one life, don’t waste it with [the] little things.”
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“Education to children [is] the most important [thing] to be healthy in adulthood”
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“A heart with training is a heart with living”
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“Eat lots of vegetables”
Other entries also spoke of the benefits of de-stressing, and offered advice on how to help with this such as including undertaking low intensity exercise such as yoga, and getting regular exercise and fresh air.
Featured image credit: Human Body Organs (Heart).3D by Life science. © via Shutterstock.
Hi Melanie!
CHD is definitely a big one. These are simple lifestyle changes that can help with maintaining heart health. I at first, I kept reading the cards, which was slightly difficult to understand. When I finished, I just realized there was text under the images. Laughing at myself now. By the way, thanks for sharing.