How is your heart feeling?

Being proactive about caring for your body and preserving your health is always a positive step. When it comes to heart health it is especially important. Tampa Cardio cares about your heart health so we are always thinking of ways to get information to you that might save you some heartache (literally).

Here are our top 5 DIY at-home heart health care tips to keep your ticker working in tip-top shape.

1. Stay hydrated: While there is no set number of glasses of water you should consume daily it is important to drink water. Tea, coffee, and soda count against your daily intake because they are caffeinated. Caffeine will dehydrate rather than hydrate the body. When you are dehydrated it increases your heart rate. It can also increase your blood pressure. You may feel faint when standing too quickly. Remaining in a state of dehydration can damage the circulatory system including your heart.
2. Quit smoking: This includes vaping too. The chemicals in vapes and cigarettes are harmful to the entire body including the heart and lungs. Over time the organs become clogged and the walls more rigid and less permeable with oxygen. It can lead to cancer and heart disease.
3. Start exercising and moving more: Your heart is a muscle. It needs to be worked. Cardiovascular exercise even as simple as walking is necessary for a healthy heart and body.
4. Modify your dietary intake: less salt, more fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lots of clean water, and grass feds lean meats. Drop the processed packaged foods, sugar, and fast-food drive-throughs.
5. Stop drinking alcohol: At the very least cut back to one drink per day or less. Alcohol, though legal, is a poison. It doesn’t do your body one bit of good.

For more tips or a customized heart-healthy meal plan come see us at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates for Tampa Bay, Florida. We have three locations convenient to you. www.Tampacardio.com 813-975-2800.