What’s always working in the background, even when you don’t see it? Your heart! No wonder heart health is so important.
As an amazing muscle that beats about 100,000 times a day, the heart is what keeps us all going—pumping oxygen-rich blood that other organs (like the lungs, brain and kidneys) need to stay healthy.
With all the good things your ticker does for you, it deserves some TLC. That’s especially true given the risk of heart problems: Heart disease can happen when the heart gets damaged from clogged arteries or other heart conditions. Sadly, it’s the number one killer worldwide.
Fortunately, simple day-to-day actions can reduce your risk for heart problems while providing all the other benefits of a healthy lifestyle, from improving your mood to fighting fatigue and more. So this year, resolve to be a little kinder to your heart with these easy heart health tips.
Eat for a Healthy Heart
What you put into your body can have a direct impact on your heart health. Nutritious food and drink choices can support cardiac function, while unhealthy choices can lead to buildup in your arteries that can increase your heart risks over time.
1. Eat the Good Stuff
Experts recommend a balanced diet that incorporates these five categories:
- Fruits and veggies
- Whole grains
- Low-fat or fat-free dairy
- Protein-rich fish, eggs, nuts and lean meats
- “Good fats” like canola, safflower or olive oils
To set yourself up for success, pick some healthy recipes and plan your shopping list in advance.
2. Limit the “Bad” Stuff
There are four things worth cutting back on:
- Saturated fats: Found in butter, cheese or fatty meats
- Trans fats: Found in foods made with partially hydrogenated oils
- Added sugars: Found in sugary sodas and desserts
- Sodium: Found in some pre-made sauces
Learn to read food labels so you know what you’re eating.
3. Keep Healthy Snacks Around
As you get hungry between meals, pick good-for-you choices like whole-grain crackers, plain Greek yogurt, hummus or fresh fruit. Just remember to be aware of what you’re eating. Mindless snacking, like when you’re in front of the TV, can lead to overeating.
4. Watch Portion Control
A healthy serving size of any food is likely smaller than you might think, so be especially wary before filling up your plate or eating a full entrée from a restaurant meal. The American Heart Association created a resource to help give examples of suggested serving sizes by food group.
5. Plan Ahead
Avoid making rushed (and potentially unhealthy) nutritional decisions by planning your meals in advance, prepping healthy snacks for the week and packing a healthy lunch for work each day. Check cookbooks or online recipes when building your shopping list.
Get Your Heart Pumping
Physical activity can help your heart in many ways, from lowering your blood pressure to reducing stress and helping you manage weight. Between these benefits and many others, exercise is a critical piece of a heart-healthy lifestyle.
6. Get and Stay Active
Aim for 150 minutes per week (or more) of moderate physical activity, like walking at a fast pace or playing tennis. Just make sure you ask your healthcare provider before trying a new exercise routine.
7. Mix It Up
Do a balance of activities that build muscles and keep your heart rate up. It’s a good idea to fit in strengthening exercises (like lifting weights) at least twice a week.
8. Keep It Fun
Fitness shouldn’t be something you dread, so try new things to make activities more enjoyable. Hiking, gardening or even following along with how-to dance videos online can all help take the work out of workouts.
Get Regular Healthcare
Your healthcare team can help you assess your heart risk, develop goals for healthy living and recommend necessary screenings, tests, procedures and medications to keep you feeling your best.
9. Schedule Routine Checkups
Find a primary doctor you like and schedule routine appointments as they recommend. Many preventive services such as cholesterol or blood pressure tests may be free with health insurance.
10. Take Medications as Directed
If you’re prescribed medications to treat high blood pressure or cholesterol, take them exactly as instructed. You should never stop taking medications without consulting your doctor first.
11. Share Your Family History
Since some heart problems can run in families, tell your doctor about any health problems close relatives have had. For example, let them know if your parents had heart disease before age 55 (for men) or 65 (for women).
12. Play an Active Role in Your Healthcare
You have a voice in your healthcare, so use it! Be sure to ask questions and bring up any symptoms or concerns to your doctor. They’re there to listen and help you on the journey to good heart health.
13. Take Care of Your Teeth
Studies have shown a link between gum disease and heart disease. Help prevent gum disease by brushing your teeth after meals, flossing and using mouthwash. You should also see your dentist regularly. Keep an eye out for swollen, red gums that are tender to the touch or bleed easily.
Manage Your Stress Levels
Stress can negatively affect your heart health in many ways, from raising the risk of high blood pressure to impacting cholesterol levels. Exploring healthy ways to confront and cope with your stress can support your heart health—as well as your overall health.
14. Identify Your Stress
Everyone has different stress triggers. Learn to spot yours by keeping a journal and writing down how you feel every day. Once you know what leads to stress in your life, you can mitigate the impact of those stressors.
15. Connect With Others (Safely)
Researchers have found that social relationships may help reduce your risk of high blood pressure and other problems—and may even help you live longer. Keep up with others from a safe distance with regular virtual check-ins. Even just hearing a loved one’s voice can make a difference.
16. Practice Self-Care Daily
Acts of self-care can vary depending on what works for you. Some people enjoy taking a long soothing bath, diving into a good book or doing calming exercises like yoga or tai chi.
17. Get Enough Sleep
Quality slumber can help you feel more rested during the day while lowering your risk for major health problems like high blood pressure. Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep per night.
18. Talk to a Professional
If you need help, ask your primary care provider for a referral to a therapist. A professional can help you work through your unique stressors and barriers that keep you from living your best life.
Acknowledge and Work on Bad Habits
Unhealthy habits like smoking, heavy drinking and taking illicit drugs can have various impacts on the heart, from narrowing blood vessels to making your heart muscle more prone to pumping problems.
19. Quit Using Tobacco
If you use tobacco, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart health. Within two weeks of smoking your last cigarette, your blood flow starts to get better throughout your body. Take the first step by making a quit plan on smokefree.gov.
20. Limit Alcohol
If you drink, do so moderately. Experts recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two per day for men. What’s considered one “drink” can vary by the alcohol type: 4 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.
21. Address Substance Disorders
If you suffer from addiction issues, treatment can help. Get yourself the support you deserve by calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Know the Signs of a Heart Attack—and What to Do If It Happens
If you believe that you or someone you know has a heart attack, act fast to get help. Every minute is precious, so dial 911 right away.
22. Learn to Spot the Signs
General signs of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain
- Lightheadedness
- Pain in the neck, jaw or back
- Pain in the arms or shoulders
- Shortness of breath
Women may have different symptoms, like extreme tiredness or indigestion.
23. Make a Plan to Get Help
Call 911 right away and try to calmly stay on the line with the dispatcher to answer their questions. If you’re with someone who has gone unconscious, let the 911 operator know; they may want you to do CPR or chest compressions. It’s a good idea to take an online CPR class; you could save a life.
Making Heart Health a Priority, All Year Round
Your heart does a lot for you every second of every day. Return the favor by taking care of it for the long-term: Eat well, get active, bust stress, address bad habits, find a healthcare team and learn to spot the signs of heart trouble so that you can get yourself or others prompt treatment.
These things are wonderful resolutions to make in 2023 but try not to let good intentions fizzle out. Keep up good habits and find a support network of loved ones and doctors who can keep you accountable and healthy.
There’s a well-known Chinese proverb that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” What is the first step you will take to living a heart-healthy lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below.
This informational material shall not be considered medical or health advice. You should always consult your health care provider before changing your diet or starting a new exercise regimen. The Hartford assumes no responsibility for any decisions related to your medical or health care. Consult with your health care provider, nutritionist or other health professional before making any decisions that may impact your health and well-being.
View Comments (31)
Thank you for providing this information. Fortunately good health habits have been a part of my life for many years. However reading these tips helps me to stay on track. The health challenges that I cope with on a daily basis can be handled with diet and exercise so your article reminded me of areas that I need to pay closer attention to.
Thank you !
1st step: learn more about Mindfulness.
Great tip, Zeke! To learn more, you can check out our article on mindfulness here.
I really like the article. It gives me incentive to pay more attention to what I eat and how much I move. Thanks!
Thank you for this wonderful article. Actually, reading the comments was even more fun that the article itself! ....so many opinions....... and much false information...... just being curious and open to new information is a great place to start !
I don't agree that canola and sunflower oils are healthy. They are highly processed with heat and chemicals. Animal fats can be healthy if the animal was fed a healthy diet, was pasture raised, like our ancestors ate. Certain cheesed are healthy, again as long as its organic, aged and not processed. Eat ORGANIC, think of what your grandparents and ancestors ate. They didn't eat chemicals, GMO, processed foods, with food labels a mile long. The meat was from animals that lived a stress-free, outdoor, normal diet lifestyle.
This was such great information. WOW… I’m grateful & thankful for all that was shared about THE HEART. I will start today taking care of my HEART. Please keep the info coming as you do. Thank you. Blessings
Thank you for the wonderful "Health Tips for 2023". My CV health problems came from my ansestors and my primary care phisician did not help at all. During a regular annual he did a test and told me to see a heart doctor. The heart doctor run some more tests and said I had a 70% obstruction in the artery running the blood back to the haert and needed to have surgery right away, So from shoveling snow for 8 hrs , without any sintoms, I went to have by-pass surgery in less than 3 weeks. Now after the surgery I felt bad, realy bad since the surgery I could not do any heavy work or exercise at all. I changed my Cardiologist twice and finally my present Cardiologist told me I did not needed surgery because my problem, if had one, was a wick left lower ventricle. At the time I so him my EF was 20% now with his tretament, my EF is up to 50%. I feel much better but not even close to the way I was feeling before the surgery. Doctors in the field of CV ruin my life, from a very active person I am no good for almost anything. All this happened 25 years ago I am now 89 years old, I have other heath problems now and doctors that say they performed miracles for their patients can do anything to help me. Is that bad luck or just bad doctors? you tell me.
I like the information
Excellent article full of important information to educate us how to take care of our health. I appreciate the encouragement and the structure of the article which facilitate reading and learning how to deal with the problems. This website is so informative thanks
I love it, thanks guys.