Last Updated:
Set realistic goals for your heart health this new year
Embracing and adopting a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of developing heart conditions, leading to a healthy heart.
New Year’s resolutions are a promise and a hope for a better future. Some of the most common new year’s resolutions, like exercising more, eating better, quitting smoking, or drinking alcohol, are actually very good for your health and your heart. However, more often than not, people make their resolutions too restrictive, and thus it becomes unsustainable in the long run. If you want to set realistic goals to boost your heart health in 2025, follow the guidelines mentioned below by Dr Vivek Mahajan, Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan:
- Sit Less and Move MoreIncorporate movement into your daily life; if you have a desk job, take a small break to walk around the room for around 20-30 minutes every 2 hours. It is often said that the modern-day equivalent of smoking is sitting, and it can seriously impact your quality of life and heart health.
- Eat More Whole FoodsMake better choices and opt for whole foods like vegetables, pulses, chicken, eggs, dairy, and legumes. A healthy, balanced diet significantly reduces your risk of developing heart disease and other chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Stop Having Sweetened BeveragesIf cutting off sugar completely from your diet seems too hard, stop consuming sugar-laden beverages like sodas, cocktails, and mocktails. If you drink a lot of coffee or tea, slowly stop putting sugar in your caffeinated beverage of choice. Excessive sugar is linked to fatty liver disease, heart issues, and diabetes, so avoid sugar as much as possible.
- Prioritize SleepMake sure to get at least 7-to-8 hours of sleep at night. Lack of proper sleep can lead to mental health issues and negatively impact your heart.
- Spend Less Time On Your PhoneResolve to go out more and enjoy your surroundings instead of scrolling endlessly on your phone. This can cause depression, anxiety, and loneliness, all of which have shown to impact heart health.
- Quit Alcohol and SmokingQuitting both can significantly lower your blood pressure and heart rate and do wonders for your overall health and quality of life.
- Go for Yearly Health Check-UpsEven if you do not have a family history of heart disease, make sure to get a yearly check-up done, as healthcare professionals can spot the signs even before the body starts to exhibit symptoms.
