How to Improve Heart Health: Tips from a Clinical Pharmacist

Heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death around the globe. We all have been hearing over and over again from our local doctors and clinical pharmacists as to why heart health is important. Now, with so much awareness, it is very easy to know how to improve heart health. As a clinical pharmacist, small but consistent changes in lifestyle can lead to improvements in your overall heart health. In this blog, we’ll unravel some of the important tips and tricks that will help improve your heart health. 

Tips To Improve Heart Health

As a team of clinical pharmacists, we have seen some drastic changes when patients incorporate the best foods for heart health, heart health supplements, exercise, etc. Here are some important tips from a clinical pharmacist’s perspective that will help improve your heart health and reduce the chances of any heart problems or heart conditions. 

1. Follow a Healthy Diet

The first step to a healthy heart that is often suggested by doctors and clinical pharmacists is a good and healthy diet. The best diet for heart health is the one that plays a crucial role in maintaining your cardiovascular health. A heart-healthy diet must include; 

• Vegetables and fruits: Normally, fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and antioxidants and improve heart health. 
• Whole Grains: Whole grains like rice, barley, and whole wheat bread are good when it comes to maintaining blood sugar levels. 
• Proteins: Proteins help in the building of heart muscles and improve overall heart health. 

With the incorporation of a healthy diet and food items, not only are you improving your heart health but you are also reducing the chances of any cardiovascular diseases or conditions in the future. 

2. Incorporate Movement

Movement and exercise are very important for any individual, especially if you are someone who is trying to improve your heart health. We all live busy lives and often,  because of no movement or little to no exercise, the heart weakens. From a medical standpoint, you must be taking at least 40 minutes out of your busy life for activities like brisk walking, jogging, dancing, or any cardiovascular activity that will ultimately improve your heart exercise. The best exercise for your  heart health includes; 

• Walking 
• Weight Lifting 
• Jogging 
• Dancing 
• Zumba
• Swimming 
• Cycling 

3. Check your Heart Health 

You must check your heart health and monitor blood sugar levels regularly. As a clinical pharmacist, we check blood sugar levels daily, as it gives us an insight into someone’s heart health. Especially if you are someone who has a familial history of heart disease or heart conditions, then you must check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. According to the British Heart Foundation, over 7 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory diseases, and this can be attributed to the negligence of not checking your heart health regularly. 

4. Manage Your Stress Levels 

Oftentimes, chronic stress levels and poor mental health lead to heart strokes or severe heart conditions. This is not often talked about enough, but managing your stress levels is very important. Not only does an increase in stress level increase blood and sugar levels but it also leads to severe cardiovascular diseases for a lifetime. Here are some tips that will help. Here are some tips to improve your stress levels: 

• Deep breathing 
• Meditation 
• Praying 
• Mindfulness 

Read More: How to Manage Anxiety

5. Manage your Supplements

Usually, patients who are prescribed medications don’t take them. It is very important to take your medications and supplements as prescribed. Skipping your meds not only delays recovery but also puts you at high risk of heart-related conditions. 

6. Take Enough Sleep 

If you are sleeping under 6 or 8 hours, then you are at a high risk of heart attack. Due to a hectic lifestyle, people overlook the importance of good quality sleep. A lack of sleep not only affects the way your brain functions but it also increases the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Everyone should aim for at least 6–8 hours of sleep. 

7. Quit Smoking and Alcohol 

If you are someone who smokes or drinks regularly, then it is high time you quit it because it is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and cardiovascular conditions. In the UK, almost 8000 deaths every year are attributed to alcohol and 80,000 deaths are attributable to smoking, making it the number one cause of heart failure. 

Wrapping Up

Improving and taking care of your heart health is a commitment for life, but knowing how to improve heart health is the real game changer. Understanding your heart health and making small but consistent changes is what improves your heart health and makes your life better. At the end of the day, always consult your local physical or clinical pharmacist if you have any concerns related to your heart health, because a stitch in time saves nine!