World Heart Day: Simple lifestyle changes for a healthier heart

World Heart Day is a reminder to love and protect our hearts. With lifestyle-related diseases increasingly affecting people, heart disease has also become a growing concern. Amid increasing reports of premature and sudden deaths, cardiologist Dr Bharathchandran says adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart disease to a certain extent.

Keep Your Heart Healthy

• Make exercise a regular habit. Walking, playing sports and swimming are good options.

• Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.
• Limit the amount of fat, salt and sugar in your diet.
• Include plenty of vegetables in your meals and reduce meat consumption as much as possible.
• Include fish regularly in your diet.
• Eggs and nuts can also be included in your diet.
• Avoid bakery products and fast food as much as possible.
• Take care to keep cholesterol under control.
• People with diabetes should pay extra attention to their heart health.
• Regular health check-ups can be beneficial.
• Those with a family history or inherited risk of heart disease should give due importance to medical check-ups.