Here at Stockton Cardiology, we understand the value of your happiness and quality of life. For that reason, we offer our unique cardiovascular services so that you can have the peace of mind that a healthy heart can provide. Because your heart is one of the most important organs in your body, you must do everything that you can to maintain and care for it. Part of that, of course, includes getting regular check-ups with your Stockton Cardiologist and making extra heart doctor appointments as the need arises. There is never too much that you can to do take care of your heart. Contact Stockton Cardiology to make a heart appointment today!
Caring For Our Bodies
It’s definitely no secret that our bodies are both positively and negatively affected by the choices that we make each and every day. There are a number of ways in which we can see the direct results of bad health choices affecting our physical bodies. When doctors examine the lungs of a person who smokes, they will inevitably see a huge difference between a smoker’s lungs and the lungs of a person who has never lit up. When doctors test for abnormal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, they can often see the outcome of a poor diet or insufficient amounts of exercise. Additionally, we can see the bags under our eyes from a night of drinking or little to no sleep, we can detect extra poundage around our midsection in the weeks after the holidays, and we can see plaque build up on our teeth if we skip brushing. Slacking in the care of our bodies shows.
In the same way, when doctors examine people’s hearts, they often are able to see the level of care (or lack thereof) that has gone into each individual’s health practices. And unlike the damage to many other parts of the body, the damage that we’ve inflicted on our hearts isn’t always as apparent to us or our healthcare providers until it’s causing huge problems. It can be difficult to fight a battle that we can’t see and that is going on inside our bodies, but it’s vital that we do everything we can to support the health of our hearts. No matter how old you are, there are plenty of ways that you can start being kinder to the “old ticker.”
The Value of the Heart
The heart is an important organ that pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system. Without its many functions, our other organs and bodily systems would encounter a severe lack of oxygenated blood and nutrients. Roughly the size of a fist and consisting of four chambers — two atria, and two ventricles — the heart is, without a doubt, one of the most prominent components of the body. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to take care of the heart.
The Best Ways to Care for Your Heart
-
Diet
As one of the most important components of heart health, the foods that we put into our bodies on a regular basis have a direct effect on the health of our hearts. There are some great foods to eat in abundance, some that we should enjoy in moderation, and some that we should definitely try and stay away from.
Eat a Balanced Diet with Plenty of These Foods:
- Nuts
- Berries
- Whole Grains
- Legumes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Asparagus
- Tomato
- Green Tea
- Avocados
- Kale
- Fruit
- Broccoli
- Dark Chocolate (in moderation)
- Red Wine (in moderation)
Look here for more information on the right foods to eat for the health of your heart.
Limit These Foods:
- Saturated Fats (butter, fatty meats, sour cream, mayo)
- Salt (packaged foods, frozen meals, certain meats, etc.)
- Trans Fats (microwave popcorn, bakery frosting, crackers, doughnuts, etc.)
- Deep Fried Foods
- Sugary Foods
- Diet Soda
The foods that you consume and the ones that you’re missing out on can have an effect on the health of your heart. No matter your age, make sure that you’re doing all that you can to take care of the heart that you’ve been given.
Contact Stockton Cardiology
Thanks for sticking with us as we’ve outlined the reasons for taking great care of your heart. Join us next time for part two of our heart health blog series in which we’ll start talking about some practical ways to take care of your heart.
In the meantime, check out our website to learn about our services and contact us to schedule an appointment!