Four Lifestyle Changes to Improve Your Heart Valve Health
Heart health is a crucial aspect of your overall health. However, you might find that people rarely discuss the health of heart valves. Heart valve disease is a serious condition that occurs when one or more of the valves do not function correctly. This can lead to blood flow restriction and other issues, and it can have serious consequences if treatment is not sought.
But there are ways that you can improve your heart valve health now. After all, it is said that prevention is better than a cure. Thankfully, this post has outlined four of the best lifestyle changes to do now that will support your heart’s valves and reduce the risk of issues arising.
Visit Your Doctor Regularly
Regular checkups with your doctor are essential to maintain healthy heart valves. Heart health diseases are usually asymptomatic early on, which means visiting the doctor at least annually can catch problems before they worsen. This also enables timely interventions to improve results and prevent difficulties.
Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen for signs of valve issues when assessing the function of your heart. If any problems are suspected, such as a murmur, additional tests, like an echocardiogram, might be ordered. An echocardiogram would provide a detailed image of the heart valves and how they function. These tests might be used to monitor your heart valves if your valve disease is mild or moderate.
Other risks to your heart health, such as high blood pressure and obesity, can also be checked during these checkups. If the doctor suspects further adjustments are required, they can advise you on lifestyle modifications to support your heart valve health.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet should be prioritized, particularly a diet that supports heart health. Your doctor can provide advice on this, although you can make changes to your eating habits by yourself. The focus should be on eating heart-healthy foods, such as fruits, healthy fats, lean protein, vegetables, and whole grains. It is wise to limit added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
This does not have to be a very restrictive diet, though. If you are out for a meal or treating yourself with a sweet snack, remember that these things can be enjoyed healthily when eaten in moderation.
Participate in Frequent Exercise
While your doctor highlight changes to be made in your diet, they should also discuss exercise with you. They can direct you on what is the best physical activity to participate in, especially if you are at risk of developing leaky heart valves. Low to moderate intensity cardio is often suggested as the best exercise for leaky heart valve sufferers, such as cycling, swimming, or walking.
Low impact activities promote cardiovascular health and reduce risk factors of heart issues. These exercises will strengthen bones and muscles, lower high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol (both of which can harm your heart), and boost your overall health. Adults should aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, as advised by Mayo Clinic.
Again, you must consult with a healthcare professional if you have been diagnosed with a heart issue. This is necessary to prevent complications from occurring.
Learn About Heart Disease
Understanding what causes valvular heart disease and the relevant symptoms can help you in the long-term. Some of the symptoms to look out for include chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, and irregular heartbeats. This will make spotting the signs of any health-related issues a lot easier.
To conclude, there are several lifestyle adjustments you can make to support your heart valve health. These changes include seeing your doctor regularly, eating a healthier diet, exercising frequently, and learning about heart disease. You can also quit smoking, if this is a current habit of yours, and practice daily dental care; both of these changes will benefit your overall heart health, too.
