Adopting these lifestyle changes may help you avoid heart attacks

Many young and middleaged people today are dying of sudden heart attacks Studies show that cardiovascular diseases CVD strike Indians a decade earlier compared to their Western counterparts Why is this happening How can we prevent it Are we just focused on postheart attack action Or should we be focused more on preventionLuke Coutinho holistic lifestyle coach Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine shares an input that could prevent heart attacks at a young ageCholesterol is not the culprit inflammation is Many people believe that high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are the sole culprits behind their heart attacks The main reasons behind most heart attacks are inflammation and oxidative damage in the heart blood vessels endothelial lining arteries and more While maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important we cannot blame heart attacks on cholesterol levels aloneWhat then can you do to keep inflammation in check and your heart strong Adopt simple lifestyle changes Switch from ordinary substandard cooking oils to coldpressed oils Refined oils are highly inflammatory and a threat to your heart Using refined oils just to save some money isnt a wise idea Choose the right quality and quantity of oil to boost your heart health It might cost you a few extra bucks but remember your health is not a cost but an investmentSwitch from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one Even if you dont engage in a fullfledged workout just stay active Walking and yoga are the most effective exercises Choose fun workouts that you enjoy dancing aerobics Zumba swimming whatever it is but keep that body moving People who live a sedentary lifestyle are at high risk of heart attacks Having said that overworking out with little or no rest or recovery period is equally harmful So figure out the adequate level of activity your body needs and stick to itDont take matters to your heart Before renting out your heart space and mind space to a person event or experience ask yourself if it is worth it While stress is inevitable what sets a happy person apart from a stressed person is their capacity to diffuse and navigate stress and see things in a positive light You can continue attending stress management classes and workshops and while all of them can help you feel better for some time the real change happens when you start changing your perspective towards life and how you relate to stressLearn to accept and let go Build your selfworth create a beautiful inner world reflect inwards and allow these teachings to slip into your daily livingFix your sleep routine There is nothing cool about pulling an allnighter to work or socialise more Your body only cares about survival Remember your sleep is your hearts free drug The chronic deprivation of it can increase your risk of a heart attack Your heart is a muscle that needs recovery Lack of sleep increases your insulin resistance and makes you more prone to type2 diabetes and a gamut of metabolic conditions So adopt a fixed sleeping schedule and sleep deep We cannot wait for more misfortunate incidents to realise the importance of lifestyle and start prioritizing it We must wake up and work towards prevention Many of us may go through heart disease later in life no matter how well we exercise or eat clean So identify risk factors and work towards tackling them Even if one of your risk factors is genetic predisposition and there is nothing you can do about it you can still alter your lifestyle Our intelligent human body was designed to fix and heal itself The least we can do is invest in it and help it do its job effectively Lifestyle can help you bridge this gapAlso Read Herersquos how nutrition and fertility may be related