Heart diseases cause 27% of deaths in Australia. Globally, these diseases take the lives of 17.9 million people annually. The most commonly seen heart disease is coronary heart disease, also called CHD, which causes death in 2 ways – either through a heart attack or angina. In today’s world, CHD is known as a lifestyle disease, i.e. it is highly preventable through drastic changes in one’s lifestyle. This includes quitting tobacco, adopting a cleaner, healthier and more nutritious diet, and doing regular exercise.
The prevalence of CHD increases rapidly with age and can also be inherited through bloodlines. This makes CHD a disease to fear. However, Sydney is one of the leading hotspots for cardiology care and treatment in Australia. Some of the top cardiologists are based in Sydney as well. With these many available options, care is ready and close; regardless, staying healthy and taking care of your heart should always be a priority. Read on to find out the simple steps you can take to keep your heart pumping blood without a hiccup.
The heart – a vital organ
The heart is a unique organ that is known not to regenerate its cells. That is how terms such as scar tissue arose – when something damages the heart, the heart cannot heal itself because of its unusual properties. This makes it all the more crucial to ensure that nothing jeopardizes the health of this essential organ.
The role of proper diet and nutrition
Eating healthy is an absolute no brainer here. What you eat can have an unparalleled influence on the human body. It is well known that excessive consumption of oily foods, fatty foods, fast food, and junk leads to deteriorating heart function. This is because the saturated fatty acids or trans fat in these foods threaten heart health. These unhealthy fats are most commonly seen in fast food, junk food, processed foods and meats, dairy products and fried foods. To put things into perspective, the typical American diet is said to be incredibly unhealthy as it contains an obnoxious amount of saturated fats.
CHD is caused when the body cannot break down the excess fats in these foods, and so, during circulation, get stuck, and accumulates into hard plaques within the coronary arteries, thus interfering with blood and oxygen flow throughout the body.
Tobacco and poor exercise
Tobacco is a known carcinogen. It is also said to be one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease as it weakens arteries. The chemicals and irritants in tobacco also thicken blood, making it more prone to clotting. Smokers also carry less oxygen in their blood, which means insufficient oxygen is being supplied to internal organs and systems in one circulation. This pushes the heart to work harder so it can pump blood faster so that the required oxygen can reach the organs.
Lack of physical activity also makes your heart complacent due to muscle loss and a decrease in metabolism. The link is not yet proven, but numerous studies have shown that inactivity can be detrimental to heart health. In conclusion, it is vital to consider these pointers and prioritize cardiovascular health, because if you turn a blind eye to your heart, even the top cardiologists in Sydney may struggle to help you. Change starts within oneself and without that intrapersonal control and awareness, it may just be too late.
