Your heart does so much more than beat. It is central to a healthy body, mind, and spirit. The heart pumps blood filled with nutrients through the body, supplies oxygen, removes toxins and waste, and, most importantly, gives your body life as the center of the cardiovascular system.
Understanding how your heart can impact your health can help prevent heart disease and related illnesses. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart disease is a term for various conditions that affect the heart and cardiovascular system and can include coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease, blood vessel disease, congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, and irregular heartbeats.
We’re all susceptible to heart disease; however, you may be at higher risk due to lifestyle choices like smoking and diet, age, family genetics, and more. There are steps you can take to lower your risk like:
- Eat healthily
- Get active
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Don’t or quit smoking
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Develop healthy outlets for managing stress
Heart Health Red Flags
As we go through our daily lives, it is common to lose focus on essential priorities like health. By acknowledging and paying close attention to the early red flags, you can share these early warning signs with your physician and make necessary lifestyle changes to hopefully lower your risk of heart disease:- Heart Rate
The normal resting heart rate for most adults is between 60 to 100 beats per minute. Stress, anxiety, medications, and physical activity can affect your heart rate. Most smartwatches monitor your heart rate, but the old-fashion way of counting the beats with your fingers at your wrist works too. If your heart rate is above 100 or below 60 beats per minute, this could signal that something is going on with your heart, and you should talk to your physician. - Breathing
You should be able to perform moderate-intensity physical activity, such as a brisk walk or climbing stairs, without experiencing chest pains or difficulty breathing. If that is not the case, you may have issues with your body getting its needed oxygen supply and should speak to your doctor. - Blood Pressure
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, a sign of a healthy heart. Home monitoring of your blood pressure can help monitor your heart attack or stroke risk. Those results should be shared with your doctor and should not replace regular check-ups with your physician. - Energy
If you are tired throughout the day or find it challenging to do everyday activities, like shopping, walking, or vacuuming, you could be experiencing fatigue. This could be an early warning sign of heart disease. Monitor your daily energy and sleep levels and share those results with your doctor. - Sleep
Not getting enough sleep, poor sleep, and sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, have been linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. And these are all significant risk factors for your cardiovascular health.
How can Chiropractic Care Benefit the Health of My Heart?
Chiropractic care has the potential to improve overall health with chiropractic care, including the health of your heart. Misalignments in the spine can disrupt the nervous system, which controls every organ and system in the body. By correcting these misalignments, chiropractic adjustments may help restore balance to the nervous system, potentially benefiting heart health. Additionally, chiropractors often promote healthy lifestyles, such as exercise and proper nutrition, which also contribute to a healthier heart.
