Remarkable Habits That Improve Heart Health

Take Deep Breaths

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An individual who experiences stress regularly can take deep breaths to help maintain the health of their heart. When an individual becomes stressed mentally or emotionally, certain hormones are released in their body. These stress response hormones cause several changes, including increases in heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose. These changes are beneficial when an individual is in danger, but it is unhealthy to have continuous or excessive stress responses. An inability to cope with mental or emotional stress leads to chronic high blood pressure, as well as increased risks for abnormal heart rhythms, stroke, and heart attacks. When an individual feels mentally or emotionally stressed, they can perform breathing exercises that involve taking deep breaths to help lower the level of stress hormone in their body. Inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling deeply through the mouth is one method proven to help reduce levels of stress hormone and its effects on the body.

Read more about how to maintain heart health with certain habits now.

Keep Blood Pressure Low

Photo Credit: CanoeHealth

A healthy heart can be obtained by taking certain measures like keeping blood pressure low or at an acceptable level. Blood pressure is a measurement of the physical force of the blood pushing against the blood vessel walls as it travels through them. Blood pressure is measured by two different values, one being the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes and the other being the blood pressure measurement when the heart muscle contracts. An individual's blood vessels can adjust to greater blood volumes to an extent. When an individual's blood pressure is beyond the ability of the blood vessel wall to expand, it causes the formation of fissures or cracks in the blood vessel lining. These cracks and fissures are known to encourage the formation of plaque. Plaque develops when damage in the blood vessels summons the influx of white blood cells, platelets, and other substances to the site of the damage. These components combine with fats or lipids to form the hardened plaque inside of the vessel. Accumulation of plaque in the arteries can cause deadly diseases and conditions that affect the structure and functionality of the heart. Prevention of this mechanism by keeping blood pressure low will ensure an individual's heart remains healthy.

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