Every year, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and stroke claim 18.6 million lives. In fact, cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death and at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided. It’s never too early or too late to start prioritizing heart health. See why taking care of your heart is easier than you think.
Cardiovascular disease and prioritizing heart health
According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular disease affects the heart, blood vessels, veins, and arteries. More people die from this disease worldwide than any other cause and yet 85% of these deaths are due to coronary heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes. Your heart is the size of your fist and is also the strongest muscle in your body. Your heart beats around 100,000 times and pumps up to 7,500 liters of blood each day. By the age of 70, your heart will have beaten two and a half billion times. While your heart is incredibly strong, habitual risk factors like diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, unhealthy diet, and smoking can cause problems for this amazing organ. One in every three deaths occurs prematurely in people under 70 due to heart-related illness.
Taking care of your precious heart
Even though heart disease is a leading cause of death, it’s not inevitable. While you may not be able to change some risk factors like family history, gender, or age, there are many things you can do to reduce your risk factor and boost your heart health.
Avoid tobacco or smoking
Chemicals in tobacco can damage the heart and blood vessels because it reduces oxygen in your blood and increases your blood pressure and heart rate. When this occurs, your heart is forced to work harder to supply enough oxygen to your body and brain. The good news is that the risk for heart disease starts to drop almost immediately once you quit smoking. After a year without smoking, the risk of heart disease drops to about half that of a smoker. And no matter how long or how much you’ve smoked, you’ll start seeing health rewards as soon as you quit.
Aim for 20 minutes of daily activity
It doesn’t come as a surprise that daily physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease. Activity reduces the chances of developing other conditions that can put a strain on your heart, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. Starting with at least 20 – 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise like walking briskly can make a huge difference. Even five minutes of moving can help, by doing activities like gardening, housekeeping, taking stairs or walking the dog. You don’t have to be obsessive in your efforts to make an impact.
Focus on a heart-healthy diet
A healthy diet can make a huge difference in your health and well-being. Simply prioritizing vegetables and fruits, legumes, lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and healthy fats can improve your blood pressure, cholesterol, and lower your risk for diabetes. By limiting your intake of salt, sugar, processed carbohydrates, alcohol, and saturated fats, your heart and your body will feel much better.
Get enough quality sleep
Sleep is a crucial part of taking care of yourself. Your brain is very active during sleep, carrying out many important functions. Sleep is essential for staving off disease and getting adequate rest each night allows the body to regulate your blood pressure. One study found that people who slept fewer than five hours a night had a 61% higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who slept seven hours. Sleep deprivation can cause decreased insulin sensitivity, increased inflammation, and hunger hormone changes—all of which can increase your risk for diabetes. Setting up a schedule and sticking to it by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day can help you get better quality sleep.
Make sure to get your omegas every day
Omega fatty acids are special because they are an integral part of cell membranes throughout your body and affect the function of cell receptors in these membranes. Omegas provide the starting point for hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction, and relaxation of your artery walls, and prevent inflammation.
ASEA® VIA® Omega is made from the freshest fish oil in the industry, wild-caught from a natural, sustainable source, which provides EPA and DHA triglycerides that your body needs. This daily supplement supports cardiovascular health, and brain health, provides the natural EPA and DHA ratios your body needs for absorption, and contains the nutrient building blocks that complement your cellular health. See why ASEA VIA Omega is the all-natural, highly bioavailable supplement that balances your cellular nutrition!
