The heart is synonymous with love. When you ponder the heart, you picture saccharine sweet musings of affection for another and love everlasting. The heart, however, is so much more. It is the proverbial workhorse of your body. You rely on this essential muscle, and it is crucial that you take care of it so it will take care of you. Continue reading for important information on why you need to pay attention to your heart.
Your Heart Affects Your Body
Blood flowing into your inner ear is crucial for healthy ears and functional hearing. When plaque builds up in your arteries, it will restrict blood flow. With diminished blood flow, the oxygen moving with the blood cannot reach the nerves in the ear and they become damaged. This is the critical link between heart health and hearing loss. The cochlea located in the inner ear requires oxygen-rich blood to function properly.
The vascular system, including your heart and blood vessels, also directly affects your memory and cognitive function, including factors for developing dementia. When plaque sticks to the lining of your arteries, blood supplies are restricted from reaching your brain. This reduces oxygen from traveling to your brain and impacts brain function over time.
It is Important to Understand Heart Disease
It may surprise you to learn that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men in the United States each year. There are a variety of risk factors associated with heart disease, and many of them are preventable and manageable. Some key considerations are:
- Obesity and Body Mass Index or BMI
- High cholesterol levels in the blood
- Poor quality diet
- Too much stress
- Diabetes diagnosis
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
If you have been wondering about the heart, watch this informative and entertaining video on how the heart works.
How You Can Care for Your Heart
Seeing your primary care physician for annual well-check appointments is the best way to begin your heart care. Your provider will run routine tests and talk to you about your lifestyle choices. From there, they will make recommendations on how to proceed to achieve your optimal health goals.
In addition to this yearly visit, if you feel any symptoms of heart disease, seek emergency medical treatment right away. Be aware that symptoms differ amongst people. If you feel that something does not feel right, do not dismiss it. Some common signs of concern are:
- Feelings of faintness or fainting
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness, numbness, or pain in the extremities
- Very slow or racing heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Fluttering feeling in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort, pressure, tightness, or pain
- Confusion
- Cold sweats
Perhaps the most important reason to take care of your heart is for the loved ones in your life. They love you and wish to spend years enjoying their lives with you. You have lots of adventures ahead of you. Take care of your heart and body and live your life to the fullest while making wonderful memories with your friends, family, and significant other.