When thinking of February, many may be excited for Valentine’s Day and spending time with loved ones. We want focus on another heart-centered topic this month, American Heart Month. This is a great month that is dedicated to the healthy treatment and maintenance of your heart. Due to heart disease being a leading cause of death, Activa Coating believes it’s important to equip yourself with the knowledge necessary to help prevent heart disease, keep a healthy heart, and protect your emotional wellbeing. In order to achieve this goal, you must first understand what a happy and healthy heart looks like. Let’s dive in!
What Is A Healthy Heart?
To take care of your heart, you must understand how it stays healthy and what signs to look out for. Although many factors play into a happy and healthy heart, there are some major signs that can show whether or not your heart is in good condition.
Heart Rate / Blood Pressure
Having a healthy heart rate and blood pressure are among the important factors when evaluating the health of your heart. Your heart rate should normally range from 60-100 beats per minute. Although, those who work out regularly can have a heart rate as low as 40-50 beats per minute; this is a result of a healthy working heart. Having healthy blood pressure is also a major indicator of your heart’s performance. The CDC states that readings under 120/80 show a healthy heart. When readings start reaching above 130/80 the risk for heart attack and stroke go up dramatically.
Cholesterol
Although many people may only know about the negative effects of cholesterol, it’s actually extremely important for many body functions including the production of hormones and cells. This said, high cholesterol is extremely dangerous. When there is too much cholesterol in the body it can cause blood clots and other restrictions. This raises the risk for disease and other serious health issues like strokes and heart attacks.
Breathing
Overall, how do you feel when you walk up a flight of stairs or do something slightly strenuous? It might seem silly, but something as simple as your breath can show a lot about the overall health of your body. If you can catch your breath fairly easily after a strenuous activity it shows positive cardiovascular health which reflects the health of your entire body.
The Effect of Air Pollution on Your Heart
Many people underestimate the danger that comes with being exposed to air pollution daily. Whether you are inside, outside, or in your car, you are constantly breathing in contaminants and toxins that you did not evolve to inhale. This has a drastic effect on many of your body functions, including your heart and lungs. As previously discussed in our last blog, the EPA has expressed that any exposure to air pollutants causes a higher risk of lung and heart disease, birth defects, and other serious health conditions. If you want to protect yourself indoors, check out our paint. Activa Coating is photocatalytic which helps remove harmful air pollutants from the air that passes by, leaving your room safe and clean to breathe.
Keeping the Heart Healthy
Although opinions sometimes vary on the recommended amount of exercise you should get each day, the American Heart Association recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, stating that 300 minutes of activity per week can make even more heart benefits. At minimum, this comes out to 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week. Don’t be scared or intimidated by this; simply going for a walk each day can make a huge difference.
It’s also extremely important to pay attention to your nutrition habits when maintaining a healthy heart. We won’t tell you to only eat vegetables, but there are substances that should generally be avoided. For example, it’s important to have fat in your diet but trans fat is another story. Trans fat is one of the only types of fat that your body doesn’t need to survive. An excess of trans fat can cause artery blockage and other health problems that can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and even death. Make sure to check the nutrition label for “Zero Trans Fat” or a very low amount of it.
Finally, taking care of your emotional wellbeing, your theoretical heart, is important for optimal mental health and actual heart health. Your emotions don’t just affect your mental wellbeing, they affect your heart as well, including causing heart disease and irregular rhythm. Practice self-love and care, activities that de-stress you, and seek assistance from professionals if needed in order to keep a healthy heart and mind.
Conclusion
When it comes to your heart health, it can be overwhelming trying to incorporate and remember everything that’s necessary. This said, having some baseline knowledge on the subject could end up making the difference between potential health problems in the future and staying healthy. Remember, February is American Heart Month and there has never been a better time to pick up some healthy habits to improve your respiratory and heart health. Whether its exercise or painting your home or office with Activa Coating, anything helps! Remember to treat your heart with care this and every month.
