Four Ways to Improve Heart Health...
Written by Devin Wilson, ND
In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, accounting for more than 610,000 deaths annually. Someone has a heart attack every 42 seconds and every minute someone dies from a heart disease-related event. This should be enough to convince anyone that heart disease is a serious health issue facing the majority of Americans today and taking care of your heart is critical to a long and happy life.
Heart disease typically takes years, if not decades to develop. Slowing or reversing its effects will also take time, along with a detailed treatment plan from your doctor. At Live Well Clinic in La Quinta, California, we provide integrative and comprehensive treatment plans. Here are four ways to improve your heart health.
1. Reduce Risk Factors
2. Healthy Diet
3. Exercise/Movement
4. Ozone Therapy
Key risk factors for developing and exacerbating heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Approximately, 47% of Americans have one or more of these factors. In addition, conditions and lifestyles such as diabetes, overweight/obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption further increase the risk. Adjusting your lifestyle to reduce these risk factors will improve your heart health.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and healthy meat and fat is beneficial for overall health and in particular, heart health. A 2013 study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, concluded people who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, can reduce the risk of heart disease by 30%. Whether you choose a Mediterranean, Paleo, Low Carb or other diet, a healthy diet with optimal nutrition is crucial for reducing the risk and progression of heart disease.
Like all muscles of the body, the heart becomes stronger and more robust as a result of physical exercise. Exercise reduces inflammation, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, the waist line, and improves blood flow and blood vessel flexibility. A person who exercises often and vigorously has the lowest risk for heart disease and may reverse some disease risk factors. The American Heart Association recommends moderately-intense exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Ozone therapy is a safe, non-conventional, and effective therapy with multiple mechanisms of action and biological effects. Therefore, it can be used in the treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. A significant amount of published research has demonstrated positive results in heart disease (coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, intermittent claudication, atherosclerotic ischemia), stroke (cerebral vascular disease, upper and lower motor dysfunction), diabetes and more cardiovascular related conditions.
THE BENEFITS OF OZONE THERAPY
· Supports tissue repair and regeneration
· Up-regulates the antioxidant system
· Modulates the immune system
· Reduces chronic inflammation
· Improves oxygen delivery to cells
· Improves blood circulation and decreases blood viscosity
· And more
Don’t become a heart disease statistic. Make changes in your life to improve your heart health, today!