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It is a surprising fact that the heart beats approximately 2.5 billion times over one's lifetime, pushing millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body. This steady flow of blood also carries with it oxygen, energy, hormones, other compounds, and a multitude of other cells, all essential in keeping the body in perfect condition. The heart and blood vessels also function as an efficient waste-disposal system, whisking away the various waste products of metabolic activity. When the heart stops, most of the body's other essential functions shut down, some of them nearly instantly!
Considering the heart's never-ending job, it's a highly efficient organ when treated right. However, this wonderful organ is not infallible. If treated carelessly, it is also liable to fail, often brought down by a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, infection, and many other factors.
Cholesterol - It is a common misconception that all cholesterol is bad. Your body needs some good cholesterol to function correctly. It allows your body to make vitamin D and various hormones, including Oestrogen in women and Testosterone in men, and also improves digestion.
However, bad cholesterol clogs the arteries and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood over time.
Here are some steps you can take to keep your cholesterol levels in check:
High Blood Pressure - Also called Hypertension, high blood pressure causes higher than normal force of blood against the artery walls. Untreated hypertension can damage the arteries, heart, kidneys, and other organs. This damage can further lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and also kidney failure. It can also cause vision & memory loss, fluid accumulation in the lungs, circulatory problems, and several other health issues.
Here are some steps you can take to keep your blood pressure in check:
Cardiologist Nayereh Pezeshkian explains that nearly 30% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 exhibit heart problems. More often than not, these patients also suffer from more severe symptoms and worse health outcomes. These heart issues may be due to direct damage to the heart caused by the virus. This results in heart inflammation.
As we grow older, many people may face some form of cardiovascular trouble (an all-in-one term for all of the diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels). However, this is also avoidable in many cases. A consistently healthy lifestyle, especially when begun at a younger age, is the most important step in preventing most forms of cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle changes can often nip issues like hypertension or high cholesterol in the bud, before any major damage occurs. This post was written with the intention of making readers aware of the risks of cardiovascular disease. The strategies for prevention and care mentioned above would go a long way in ensuring a healthy heart and a healthy life for all. However, when in doubt, it is always a good idea to reach out to a trained medical doctor for advice.