What is your heart age? And how do you find out and fix any problems? We tell you.
Your heart works harder than you give it credit for. Whatever your age, whatever the season and whatever the circumstance, it keeps beating continuously. But did you know that your heart could be older than you are?
5 ways to fix your aging heart
#1 Check your heart age. Start off by using a heart age calculator to check your heart age. The heart age calculator is an online tool that calculates the estimated age of your heart based on your age, weight, lifestyle, health profile, etc. Be as accurate in your responses as you can, and list down any and all history of heart disease, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption, current levels of activity, etc. Do not be disheartened if you learn that your heart age is more than your biological age. There are corrective steps you can take to remedy the situation.
#2 Get a POA. Now that you have got the answer to the question of ‘What is your heart age?’ you can proceed to get medical and exercise advice on what to do next. If you are overweight, the obvious thing is to drop the extra kilos and the extra inches. You might also consider getting an ECG to determine if there are arterial blockages, and the extent of the same.
#3 Get your recommended exercise and diet. Your doctor and a qualified trainer can chart out your workout regimen for you, so that you get the most out of it. Meanwhile, a nutritionist can recommend a heart-healthy diet. Start small with your exercise if you haven’t ever worked out before, and step up the intensity gradually. Strength training also helps your heart by increasing circulation and elasticity. Swimming is the best cardiovascular exercise if you are overweight.
#4 Get a lot of sleep. Sometimes, all your heart needs is a rest from your normal routine. Adequate rest has remarkable effects on your heart health and staves off heart disease. When you get good quality sleep, you are likely to experience less stress and anxiety. Plus, your mind is sharper and the heart rate slows down instead of speeding up in response to a situation. Take a break from work for a few days just to catch up on sleep and your hobbies.
#5 Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is too short for worry. And most of your daily stress is the result of short-term stimuli like deadlines. Every time you begin to stress out, take three calming breaths and relax your body. Imagine the anxiety leaving the body, close your eyes and count to 50. Do this often, and over time, you will become calmer and more centred – thus benefiting your heart.