Ways to Make Your Heart Stronger

Making your heart stronger is key to helping you stay fit and healthy into old age. The heart is a key organ of the body and understanding how to keep it in good condition is important. Even if you recently had surgery there are things you can do to help your heart stay strong.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise helps build body and muscle strength, including the heart muscles which pump blood and oxygen around the body. Physical activities can strengthen your heart muscles tremendously. If you have high blood pressure, exercise—if properly supervised—can also help you reduce it and improve your circulation. This, in turn, makes you feel stronger and helps you perform all your daily tasks of living.

How you exercise and which exercises are best for your particular circumstances, is critical. Physical therapy by a trained therapist can ensure that you stay safe while exercising. The therapist can show you how to get the most out of any equipment you might have access to. Furthermore, a therapist can encourage and cajole you and together you can have a laugh along the way.

This last aspect of any exercise routine also has huge benefits for your emotional and mental health. After all, sound mental and physical health complement each other and help you stay independent for longer.

Happy elderly couple shot on a white background

Eat healthy foods

Eating the right foods and the right quantity of food will depend on your individual circumstances. However, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables will help make your heart stronger. Raw vegetables are particularly nutritious so don’t think you must only eat cooked veg. All vegetables, not just greens, are packed with vitamins and minerals and are delicious if not overcooked.

You don’t have to cut red meat out of your diet completely. However, you should consider the health benefits of eating smaller portions of red meat and/or eating it less frequently.

Eating healthier fats can lower your risk of heart disease and help you lose weight. Try to avoid saturated fats–found in meat and butter—as well as trans fats. The latter are found in French fries and many baked foods.

Lose weight to make your heart stronger

If you can lose weight your health will benefit as it means the heart does not have to work so hard. If you are overweight, losing some pounds will make you feel good about yourself and reduce pressure on the heart. Furthermore, slimmer people tend to have less excess fat in their hearts, reducing the risk of blocked arteries. Weight loss through exercise and a healthy diet also improves your blood pressure and blood sugar. Losing weight is a simple way to relieve the burden on your heart and make it stronger.

Avoid stress

As you dine, exercise, or try to lose weight, it’s important to engage with people and have a laugh. People who socialize with others, play games and join in fun activities tend to be less stressed. Stress is a known contributor to heart disease and ill-health so you should always try to avoid it.

An unbeatable package

Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn, NY, offers entertainment programs in English and Russian. Apart from our physical therapy and other rehab therapies, we provide first class nursing care. For our registrants we provide free transport door to door. 

Fairview welcomes you to its warm and friendly environment of care and compassion. Our skilled, talented and multilingual staff provide top-quality adult day care to people coming from all social or religious backgrounds. Fairview accepts NYS Medicaid, Managed Long-Term Care, Medicaid Managed Care, TBI Waiver, and private payments. Don’t hesitate to contact us and work with us to make your heart stronger.

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.