Every year on September 29, people across the globe celebrate World Heart Day and show how much they "heart" their hearts. Our heart works tirelessly, pumping blood through our bodies day and night. It's time we showed our hearts some love! Here we list down a few lifestyle tweaks that we can make to aid our hearts stay healthy.
Celebrate World Heart Day with heart-healthy tips
The 10 tips below underline this year’s World Heart Day theme - use heart for action.
- Eat a Balanced Diet: Your dietary choices must include fresh fruits, healthy fats, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. It may be a good idea to cut back on your sugar intake. Avoid processed food as well as saturated and trans fats.
- Stay Active: Regular exercising - like cycling, walking, and swimming - may help keep your heart strong. It is advised to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
- Quit Smoking: If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart's health. Both passive and active smoking damage blood vessels and raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Limit Alcohol: Too much alcohol can harm your heart, lead to hypertension, irregular heartbeats, stroke or a heart attack, and even heart failure. And if you still prefer to drink, we'd suggest you do so in moderation.
- Manage Stress: Find ways to relax and manage mental health. Think yoga, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.
- Get Regular Check-ups: Book regular health check-ups to keep a tab on your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: To prevent overeating, keep track of portion sizes, particularly when eating out. Excessive weight gain and calorie intake can lead to cardiovascular ailments.
- Sleep Well: Adequate sleep can work wonders for your heart health. Aim for 7-8 hours of restful sleep each night, as it decreases the risk of hypertension, obesity, and heart diseases.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps your heart pump more easily, prevents dehydration, and enhances blood circulation.
- Decrease sodium intake: You must limit your daily salt intake to 2,300 mg or 1 teaspoon. However, if you are coping with dietary restrictions or any chronic heart disease, restrict your daily salt intake to 1,500 mg.
How health insurance can support heart health
Health insurance plans play a crucial role in keeping your heart healthy in the following ways:
- With the right coverage and adequate sum insured, you can access regular check-ups, screenings, and timely treatment for heart conditions. A healthcare plan will cover the expenses related to hospitalisation, pre- and post-hospitalisation, surgeries, medicines, OPD treatment, domiciliary care, and more.
- Many health insurance plans now offer perks in the form of preventive care to help you stay healthy, like diet plans and tips on how to stay healthy. You can avail of annual health check-ups and wellness programs to keep track of your cardiac health.
- Having health insurance also means you won't have to worry about the cost of unexpected treatments if you are diagnosed with a cardiac ailment or need emergency medical attention. A comprehensive healthcare plan lets you prioritise your health without worrying about the associated expenses.
- You can avail of quality healthcare and cashless facilities at the network hospitals of your insurer.
Conclusion
World Heart Day is a friendly reminder to take care of your cardiac health.By making healthy choices and having the right insurance coverage,you can remain prepared for medical emergencies and avail of the best available treatment and care.