How to Improve Your Heart Health

Everyone knows that heart attacks and clogged arteries are deadly. Often, a few preventatives work major magic in staving off a "big one" - here are several positive actions that are tried and true.

Suggestion 1 - Decrease your bad cholesterol. This is one of the biggest heart attack preventers and not much needs to be said about it. Countless studies and tests have proven that high cholesterol can and often does present heart health risks!

Suggestion 2 - Stop smoking. There is no better time than now! A New Year is literally here and what could possibly be a better act of love for yourself and your loved ones than to quit - now!

Suggestion 3 - Get more than six hours of sleep each night - preferably eight hours. Cornell University studies confirm that heart-related diseases increase in the general population by almost 40 percent when people skimp on sleep regularly.

Suggestion 4 - Avoid prolonged depression and blue moods. A statistic logs over 35 million Americans suffer from depression. Find friends who share your hobbies and interests, attend church functions, mend family breaches, eat fresh fruits and nuts, and regularly socialize.

Suggestion 5 - Clear up skin exema and psoriasis. Cure rashes and skin inflammations that can damage underlying blood vessels. It has been found that there is over 35 percent increased risk of heart attack in psoriasis sufferers and that's so totally avoidable. Use Vitamin D ointment continuously (can clear up psoriasis within 6 months) and thereby avoid tissue and blood vessel inflammation.

Suggestion 6 - Avoid stress. Our lives are strained and stressed each day. It gets increasingly difficult to eliminate all stressors from our lives, and frustrations can hardly be eradicated. However, our day-to-day trials and tribulations are among the top causes leading to high blood pressure, heart disease and heart attacks. Practice relaxation techniques as if your life depends on it - because it does! Calm yourself in time-urgency situations such as long bank/grocery lines, traffic jams, appointments delays; don't get angry or frustrated.

Suggestion 7 - Join a health club or social club. Take up a new hobby; resume a passion. Begin gardening or grow a beautiful plant. Learn to play an instrument; join a group or choir. Be active and guard against excessive free time. Keep your mind busy and learning, be constructive, achieve something, take great pride in your accomplishments. Feel happier!

Suggestion 8 - Avoid suffering a low-grade gum infection for an extended time. Studies at Texas University's Medical School have found that your risk of heart disease doubles if you ignore gum disease. Inflamed gums and plaque-coated teeth harbor the same bacteria that play havoc with arterial walls.

Simply eating a couple of whole grain servings each day, drinking green or black tea every day, savoring several cups of berries during the week and snacking on one-third cup of walnuts weekly can help stave off heart-related problems.

Treat yourself well. Do it for your loved ones, and actively work to have good heart health!

This article is written by The Old Gray Mare^TM of www.DressYourHorse.com^TM and www.FantasyKritters.com^TM.