Heart Disease Awareness
Image: by Shida Pourlofti for How Are You magazine, Melbourne.
REDFEB 2022: Heart disease awareness
Happy February everyone! This month on the Fitness To A Tee pages - I'm focusing on heart disease awareness; giving you tips on how to look after your heart and how to improve your body's cardiovascular fitness through exercise and nutrition.
Heart Research Australia is holding #REDFEB 2022 which is a month of raising awareness of the prevalence of heart disease; the devastation it causes and funds to make breakthroughs happen. They encourage people to get involved by wearing RED for someone close to your heart +and donating to much needed research. #wearredanddonate
What does the heart do?
Your heart is crucial to your survival, as it circulates blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout your body.
What is heart disease?
Heart Research Australia states that heart disease (or you might hear cardiovascular disease) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect your heart. These include blood vessel diseases e.g. coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects).
Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions e.g. those that affect your heart’s muscle, valves or rhythm are also forms of heart disease.
See Heart Research Australia's website here for more information.
Why does heart disease awareness matter?
Heart disease is the number one cause of death globally, with most of these deaths happening in low to middle income countries. It is also the leading cause of death in Australia, with one Australian dying of a heart attack every 30 minutes.
WHO states that approximately 17.9 million people die each year from heart disease, with 85% of these being due to heart attacks and strokes.
Heart disease kills four times more women than breast cancer. With the rise of obesity; diabetes etc - cases of heart disease are increasing, with young people amongst the statistics too. I've lost loved ones to heart attacks, with one being in his 30's.
See this yummy recipe + why each ingredient is good for your heart here.
What can we do to prevent or manage heart disease?
Most heart disease can be prevented or managed by the following.
Eating healthy
There are so many different, yummy tasting foods which are great for your heart too. Click here for one of my healthy recipes with Alfalfa sprouts, avocado, leafy greens and beetroot which all have nutrients to support our heart health.
Just to focus on Alfalfa sprouts for example, they've been shown to lower "bad" cholesterol levels (LDL's) and stabilise blood pressure, which reduce heart disease risk e.g. strokes. Also packed with vitamins e.g. Vitamin K (helps with blood clotting, building bones); Vitamin C (for immune system, skin) and iron (to make red blood cells).
Olive oil is also great for reducing inflammation; lowering blood pressure; lowering bad cholesterol and improves blood vessel function.
Movement/Exercise
Exercise is good for our heart health as it:
reduces stress (lowering risk of strokes, high blood pressure etc)
reduces the heart's need to pump more blood to the muscles and stabilises blood pressure
makes it easier for the muscles to obtain oxygen out of the blood etc.
Stop smoking
Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels. Over the time, fatty deposits (called plaque) can build up inside one or more of the coronary arteries. This narrowing of the arteries reduces the flow of blood to the heart and increases the risk of heart attack.
Reduce excessive alcohol
Drinking alcohol can raise the levels of fat in the blood. People with high triglycerides often have high levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good cholesterol. High levels of bad cholesterol can clog arteries and if a piece of plaque breaks off, a clot can form and a heart attack happen.
Having a healthier lifestyle will help us do something about reducing heart disease. Doing something rather than not being aware of this problem, won’t help to reduce it. Let’s spread the awareness for those we love and the rest of the world. Every little bit helps. Our lives are worth it.
To make a donation to Heart Research Australia, which raises funds for research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease - click here now.
For a customised, online plan to help you boost your cardiovascular and overall health, click here now to book a free 30 minutes consult with me.