The heart is the primary organ of the body which pumps blood throughout the body. It is one of the most sensitive organs that needs to be taken care of religiously. However, we often tend to ignore heart health by adapting to unhealthy lifestyles and consuming junk food. Winters narrow the blood vessels and affect blood circulation causing the heart to work faster to pump blood to the body's organs. This increases the chances of high blood pressure and heart attacks. Thus making it compulsory to take extra care of the heart during winter. We connected to Dr. Rana Serbjeet Singh, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata for his input on how you can strengthen your heart and prevent heart attacks.
Consume Healthy Diet
Our food habits significantly impact heart health. Moreover, it is common in winter to consume fat-rich food which impacts the heart condition. However, it’s important to consume a balanced diet which includes immunity booster food items such as seasonal fruits, leafy vegetables, low-fat nuts and roasted food items. These food items will keep the body’s energy intact and do not add any fat to the body. Moreover, it’s important to keep the body hydrated. The fluid intake reduces in winter naturally but to ensure heart health it is important to consume healthy beverages like coconut water and soup to keep the body hydrated.
Workout
Winter weather prevents people from stepping out of the house for exercise. However, lack of exercise leads to unhealthy weight gain which puts pressure on the heart and reduces the capability of the immune system to fight the infections. It is advisable to indulge in indoor exercises, brisk walks in the afternoon in the sunlight or practice yoga.
Maintain Hygienic Environment
Keep your surroundings clean and hygienic to ensure the overall health of the heart (why heart attacks are rising). Dust and pollen allergies increase in winter which might impact your heart.
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Ensure Vaccination
Flu is a common infection in winter which may lead to health complications if not taken care of. Comorbid people with existing heart (world heart day) conditions are at high risk of this infection. Thus, it is advisable to get a preventive jab to protect your body.
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Follow these expert advice to keep your heart healthy and fit.
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