The heart is one of the body’s most vital organs, it is important we manage our health behaviour and mitigate the risk factors.

Physical Exercise

Exercise has countless benefits to your heart health, in particular exercises that make you sweat and increase your heart rate over prolonged periods such as swimming or cycling. This in turn reduces the strain on your heart by promoting weight loss, slower heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Healthy Diet & Lifestyle

Physical fitness combined with a Mediterranean diet comprising of fruits, vegetables, fish, and healthy fats such as olive oil has been proven to reduce heart disease with Mediterranean populations having a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption are highly beneficial to improving your heart health by minimising your risk of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Medical Review  

It is important to get regular heart checks, even as young as 20 years old according to the American Heart Association. Having an appointment with your doctor and getting your cholesterol level checked is vital to assess your heart health. Especially for those who have a family history of heart disease or experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, or palpitations.

Dr Khalid Mujahid MBChB MRCS