- Try to reduce stress.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), mental or physical stress can affect your blood sugar level. But as negative an effect as stress can be on your blood sugar, it can be equally destructive to your heart’s health. Reuters reports that recent studies indicate feeling stressed puts people at a significantly increased risk of developing or dying from heart disease. Stress has come to be recognized as one of those silent killers that shouldn’t be allowed to build to dangerous levels, and any heart-healthy regimen needs to include opportunities for relieving stress.
- Stick to a healthy diet.
The American Diabetes Association recommends a diet heavy in fruits and vegetables. Especially recommended are non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli, and green beans. Whole grains are far preferable to processed grains, and fish is recommended along with nonfat dairy products. Water or diet drinks are recommended over sugar-sweetened drinks such as sodas. The ADA also advises against eating high-calorie snack foods, and warns that eating too much of even healthy foods can lead to dangerous weight gain. It is interesting to note that the American Heart Association makes very similar dietary recommendations, and also advises against eating too many foods with added sugar. If you’re looking for a great snack suggestion with plenty of natural sweetness, what about delicious berries?
- Get plenty of exercise.
The benefits of exercise are so well known that you don’t need to read them here. The most important thing is to find some fitness activities you enjoy and can look forward to doing regularly. You need to exercise most days of the week in order to get the full benefit, and your senior health regimen should include exercises for stretching, strength, and endurance training. Of course, cardio workouts are the key to fine-tuning your heart. With your doctor’s go-ahead, you should start at whatever level seems right, but it’s important to work your way up to the level where your exercise is providing the optimum benefits—and for your heart that means sustaining an elevated heart rate for a minimum of 10 minutes and ideally for 30 minutes or more almost every day of the week.
Valentine’s Day is here! This is a time of year when the heart seems to be right at the center of things. What better time could there be to make a promise to take the best possible care of your heart? Do that, remember, and you’ll considerably increase your chances of avoiding or beating diabetes. Making wise choices is the key to your overall health, and MedicareMall is ready to help you make the wisest choices when it comes to your health coverage.
Enjoy Valentine’s Day with that special someone—and tell us about it!
More on Diabetes and Your Heart © 2013 MedicareMall.com