When we think of heart problems, we tend to automatically think of older members of society. Sure, people may become more prone to issues with their cardiovascular health as they age. But it’s extremely important to remember that you need to prioritize the health of your heart at any age. Children and young adults can experience difficulties too! You can never take the health of your heart for granted! So, what can you do to maintain your heart as best you can? Here are a few key pieces of advice on the topic.

Risk

First things first, let’s identify risk for both men and women. This will help to give you an idea of your chances of problems with heart health developing.

Women

Women are most likely to experience a heart attack when they are in their early seventies, but heart symptoms in women can develop at any age. In fact, studies have shown that more women die of heart disease in their early twenties than breast cancer. Heart attacks in women aged between 35 and 54 have also steadily increased over the past twenty years.

Men

The average age for a man to experience a heart attack comes in lower at 66. However, again, it is important to note that problems do hold the potential to strike at any time. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, around one in every four male deaths in 2006 was linked directly to heart disease.

Screening

Relatively few of us are screened for heart related issues as regularly as we should be screened. Medics generally recommend that the average adult undergoes screening once a year. If you have a family history of heart disease, or you have experienced problems with your heart in the past, however, it’s important that you may want to undergo more regular screening. You can generally have these tests carried out by your regular doctor. They will measure your blood pressure, check your cholesterol, and ensure that your blood sugar levels are balanced.

If Problems Are Identified

If screening unveils problems with any of your readings or measurements, your doctor will be able to survey your individual situation, diagnose any problems, illnesses, or diseases, and lead you on the path to management and recovery. It is extremely important that you always follow any advice given to you by your doctor. They have your best interests in mind and while their suggestions may seem relatively dull and straight laced, they are going to be for your own good. You are likely to have to make some pretty major lifestyle changes in order to lead a healthy life and put cardiovascular issues to the back of your mind. Some that you might encounter could include:

Losing Weight - committing to reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can work wonders for your heart. If you are overweight or obese, your heart has to pump blood around a larger area, meaning that it needs to beat more times per minute to be able to do its job. This can put your heart under excessive strain and stress! You can monitor your weight by checking your BMI. Try to reach a healthy BMI by consuming a healthier and more balanced diet.

Stopping Smoking - smoking creates a whole host of problems for your body to deal with. Cardiovascular disease is just one of them. So, by kicking this habit to the curb, you will be doing more than your heart a favor. You will be doing your whole body a favor! Remember that there are various sources of support out there to help you with this difficult journey.

Increasing Physical Activity - if you are suffering from heart disease, you might not want to throw yourself head first into an intense fitness plan. While it is likely that you will need to increase your physical activity, it’s generally best to do this gradually. Consider walking more, getting up and moving about around the house rather than staying seated for extended periods of time, and using the stairs instead of escalators or the lift. These simple steps can make all the difference. Just check what limits you should impose on yourself to avoid exhaustion and too high a heart rate.

Heart health really is a complex subject! 

There are so many different things that you need to take into account when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart throughout your entire life. Knowing your risk levels, attending regular screening sessions, and taking action towards improving your heart health should all help you to achieve a health balance!