Heart health

Keeping your heart healthy can be a challenge - especially when good intentions meet the reality of everyday life. It's difficult to balance work, family and looking after yourself.

Reduce stress

Heart health: How to protect your heart in everyday life

Keeping your heart healthy can be a challenge - especially when good intentions meet the reality of everyday life. It's difficult to balance work, family and looking after yourself. However, a few essential habits can help keep your heart healthy. The medical specialists at Elytis Hospital offer practical advice on how to avoid the most common pitfalls of heart health.

Reduce stress for a stronger heart

Everyday stress can be a silent enemy of your heart. When you're stressed, your body releases adrenaline, a hormone that triggers the 'fight or flight' response. This burst of adrenaline was essential for our ancestors' survival in the face of immediate dangers, such as wild animals. Today, this response mechanism is triggered by modern stressors such as work deadlines, busy traffic or arguments with family members.

Unfortunately, this prolonged state of stress can become dangerous, leading to high blood pressure, a leading cause of coronary heart disease. It can also favor heart rhythm disturbances and, in more serious cases, cause heart failure.

What can you do?

Practice deep breathing exercises to calm your body and mind.

Get regular exercise: walking for 20-30 minutes a day can work wonders.

Find time for relaxing activities like reading, meditating or spending time with loved ones.

Talk to someone you trust about your emotions to prevent inner tensions from building up.

Prioritize your sleep: A good night's sleep protects the heart

Good quality sleep is not just rest for the mind, but also for the heart. Studies show that adults who sleep less than 6 hours a night are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke as those who sleep 6-8 hours a night.

What can you do?

Avoid using electronic devices 30 minutes before bedtime. The blue light from phone and laptop screens can slow the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

Set a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends.

Create a comfortable sleeping environment. Make sure your bed and pillows are comfortable and your bedroom is quiet, dark and well ventilated.

Doctors at Elytis Hospital emphasize the importance of good sleep hygiene and recommend seeking specialist help if sleep disturbances persist.

Daily hygiene: An unexpected link between oral hygiene and heart health

Although it may seem surprising, oral hygiene plays an important role in maintaining heart health. Studies have shown a link between gum disease and heart disease. Bacteria that cause gum infections can enter the bloodstream, which can lead to inflammation of the heart.

What can you do?

Brush your teeth twice a day and floss to remove food debris.

Schedule regular dental check-ups to spot any signs of gum disease early.

Wash your hands frequently to prevent infections that could damage your heart.

Doctors at Elytis Hospital recommend regular visits to the dentist to prevent gum problems that can affect the heart. Proper hand hygiene can also prevent infections that could put the heart at risk.

Contact a heart health specialist

If you have questions about your heart health or if you are concerned about symptoms such as palpitations, chest pains or severe fatigue, it's a good idea to consult a specialist. The doctors at Elytis Hospital are here to help.

Schedule a consultation at Elytis Hospital to speak with cardiology specialists who can offer personalized solutions for your needs.

Take care of your heart - it's the engine of your life!

Our modern stressors are part of everyday life, they will not go away, so we need to learn to cope with them in a healthy way.

Prioritize sleep

It may seem harmless to sleep less, but there's a price to pay when trying to get by on too little sleep. One study found that adults over the age of 45 who sleep less than six hours a night have about twice the risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack compared with people who sleep between six and eight hours a night.

Clean is close to... heart health

Another tip from heart health experts: make hand and teeth hygiene a priority. There is a link between gum disease and heart disease, so make sure you brush and floss your teeth daily. In addition, there are several viruses and bacteria that can cause dangerous heart infections. Frequent hand washing can help prevent these infections.

Latest medical review:

17.12.2024, Dr. Monica-Florica V. Ureche – Medic specialist Cardiologie