Right at Home Bedford’s tips to look after your heart health.
Published: 01/02/2023
National Heart Month
February marks the British Heart Foundation National Heart Month. The month aims to raise awareness of heart conditions and help people to understand ways to look after their hearts. Right at Home Bedford is a proud partner of the British Heart Foundation. Collectively we work to promote healthy lifestyles and ways each and everyone one of us can look after our hearts.
5 Tips for a Healthy Heart
According to the British Heart Foundation, in the UK, 7.6 million people have heart and circulatory issues and half of us will have one during our lifetime.
Making minor alterations to your routine can have a positive effect on your heart health potentially reducing the risk of diabetes, stroke, vascular dementia, coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases in the long term
Here are some helpful tips to improve your heart health and support the British Heart Foundation during Heart Month.
Tip 1 - Eat a balanced diet
Eat a range of fruit and vegetables- these are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and fibre that keep you energised.
Include lean proteins and whole grains into your meals. These are a good source of energy and can help keep your body feeling full for longer.
Avoid processed foods, saturated and trans fats, and added sugars . Processed and sugary foods can provide a quick burst of energy but are usually full of unhealthy preservatives.
Tip 2 - Exercise regularly
Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily.
Exercise has huge benefits on the mind and body. As well as directly improving heart health, it can strengthen muscles, improve mobility and maintain mental wellbeing and overall reduces stress levels.
Regular exercise helps improve your muscle strength allows oxygen to travel through your lungs more easily and supports blood flow
Tip 3 - Monitor blood pressure
Having a higher blood pressure can increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Low blood pressure can equally have effects on your health.
Use our Blood Pressure Guide to understand your blood pressure reading
Tip 4 - Limit Alcohol Intake
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. It can also contribute to cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects the heart muscle
Limit your alcohol intake to no more than 14 units a week. That is the equivalent of around six pints or medium glasses of wine.
To monitor your alcohol intake at home, try measuring your drinks instead of free pouring, so you know exactly how much you are consuming. Let friends and family know you are cutting down so they can support you.
Tip 5 - Give up smoking
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease. It's important to reduce your intake or quit altogether if you can.
If you stop smoking, within 12 hours your heart rate drops, the carbon monoxide level in your blood reduces and oxygen can flow more quickly.
The NHS provides free services to help you to stop smoking. You can find your local NHS stop smoking service here
Learn how to save a life this month with Right at Home Bedford
As part of Heart Month, here at Right at Home Bedford we are working with The British Heart Foundation to teach CPR to local families, groups, and community members using the charity's ReviR App.
As part of a wider initiative at Right at Home, we aim to teach CPR to as many individuals as possible to help save more lives.
Launched in 2022. RevivR app is free to download and can teach CPR in just 15 minutes.
The app provides users with live feedback using a phone or tablet camera advising on changes in speed, pressure and movement.
Training Sessions in Bedford
We are hosting sessions throughout the day at Saxon Square, Kempston Market on Thursday 23rd February. Our Registered Care Manager is trained in delivering CPR and will be delivering training along with other basic life support tips from 11am.
At Right at Home Bedford we do all we can to support our Clients and their loved ones to live a healthy and active lifestyle. For more information on our Homecare Services in Bedford contact us on 01234 481 360.
