10 golden rules to protect your heart

When a person feels stressed, the body releases stress-relieving substances, so general stress will not cause great harm to the body. However, when stress is too great or affects the body and mind for a long time, the heart will be "stressed" and suffer from problems. Symptoms include restlessness, easy tearfulness, inability to handle daily chores, being more indecisive than usual, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, and disturbed sleep. Don't take these symptoms lightly, and take timely actions to relieve stress on your body.

1. Beware of excessive stress

When a person feels stressed, the body releases stress-relieving substances, so general stress will not cause great harm to the body. However, when stress is too great or affects the body and mind for a long time, the heart will be "stressed" and suffer from problems. Symptoms include restlessness, easy tearfulness, inability to handle daily chores, being more indecisive than usual, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, and disturbed sleep. Don't take these symptoms lightly, and take timely actions to relieve stress on your body.

2. Learn the best relaxation techniques

Lie flat on your back with your arms relaxed at your sides and take a few deep breaths. Then tighten the muscles in your toes, count to three, and then relax. Follow this method to relax each muscle group in your body, breathing deeply throughout the process. After you finish your workout, take a deep breath to relax, then stand up slowly.

3. Eat more complex carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet. Complex carbohydrates are rich in starch and fiber, which release energy slowly once they reach the body. Whole grains, cereals, brown rice, oatmeal, buckwheat and potatoes are all complex carbohydrates.

4. Don’t ignore your abdominal discomfort

When the myocardium becomes fatigued, damaged, or experiences arrhythmia, the heart cannot get enough blood. At this time, some people will not show typical symptoms of chest tightness and chest pain, but only abdominal pain, indigestion, and abdominal distension. Young people, in particular, should pay attention.

5. Depression must be “digested”

Depression can have a variety of causes, but if you have a weak heart, you should be especially careful. Statistics show that 1/4 of patients will experience depression after a heart attack. This is actually not conducive to their recovery. Therefore, heart patients suffering from depression should seek psychological help as soon as possible.

6. Exercise is more important than losing weight

People who exercise regularly have lower rates of cardiovascular disease. If a "couch potato" takes time to run 3200-4800 meters three times a week, even if he or she fails to lose weight, the risk of disease will be greatly reduced.

7. Exercise even if you have heart problems

Patients with heart problems are definitely not "insulated" from exercise, and their hearts will benefit from exercise. All you have to do is seek expert advice, pick the right exercise, and proceed step by step.

8. Consider taking a statin

Statins are a major advance in cardiac research in recent years. It can affect the metabolism of cholesterol and reduce the more harmful low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 20%-60%. In addition, statins have fewer side effects and can greatly reduce the mortality rate of cardiovascular disease.

9. It’s best not to drink alcohol

Although moderate alcohol can prevent cardiovascular disease, it is difficult for most people to control their drinking capacity. Alcohol can directly damage the myocardium, cause the atria to enlarge, interfere with the normal rhythm of the heart, and cause atrial fibrillation.

10. Heart examination should not be ignored

If you are over 20 years old and do not have coronary heart disease or diabetes, you need to pay attention to two important indicators: the total cholesterol level and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol content in your blood. Generally speaking, a total cholesterol level below 5 mmol/L is ideal, while 5-6 is critical and poses a certain risk. If it's over 6, then you need to take lipid-lowering measures.