Heart Health Matters for Everyone

Heart disease does not discriminate.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, if you don’t take care of yourself you will succumb to this prolific and deadly disease.

With that in mind, that begs the question:

What is heart disease?

This umbrella term encompasses several types of heart conditions including coronary artery disease. When heart disease goes untreated and progresses it can lead to serious cardiac events including heart attack, arrhythmia, and heart failure.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women worldwide.

In the United States, it accounts for 1 out of every 5 female deaths and 1 out of every 4 male deaths. It unabashedly affects all racial and ethnic groups. There are certain risk factors that make people more likely to develop heart disease such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking

You can take action to prevent or slow down the progression of heart disease.

Here’s how:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. This should include whole grains, heart healthy fats like avocadoes and olive oil, lean protein like salmon and other fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables. If you already have high cholesterol or diabetes, limiting sugar, salt, and animal fats is key to turning your health around.
• Limit alcohol. It’s ok to enjoy a couple of cocktails or a glass of red wine, but excessive binge drinking on a regular basis has a major detrimental impact on your body.
• Don’t smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products. Just don’t do it.
• Exercise regularly. Life is busy but carving out at least 30 minutes of exercise a day is not impossible. If you currently do not exercise at all, start small by simply going for a long walk after dinner. Talk to your health care provider about an exercise plan that works for you.

Prioritize your heart health today! Turn to ImageCare Radiology for cardiovascular imaging in New Jersey. Visit our website to learn more about our services and to schedule your appointment!