Good health is the foundation of everything we want to achieve in life. We wouldn’t be able to go to work, play a sport, or have a family if we were unhealthy. With a new year ahead of us, our attention goes to care for our health. Too many patients don’t prioritize this, and the most common reason is lack of knowledge; the good news is this can be fixed!
If you’re reading this blog, you must know the importance of good health and how it affects every aspect of our lives. To help you live life to its fullest, we share 3 simple steps to put into practice this 2023 and in the future. Read carefully, take notes and get on it!
How to be in good health in 2023?
The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has never been more true than when it comes to your health.
There are several ways to get good health; however, we summarise them in 3 essential steps: stay active, get regular health screenings and check your heart.
Stay active
Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy. You don’t have to train like an Olympian or pump iron at the gym – just 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise can do wonders for your mind and body! Exercise improves circulation and blood flow, which helps keep blood pressure under control. It also keeps joints flexible and muscles strong, so your bones stay healthy, as well as the rest of your body.
Get screened regularly
Getting regular health screenings is another important step to maintaining good health. This is a great way to detect early signs of disease and illness so they can be treated before they become serious problems. Common tests include blood pressure screenings, cholesterol screenings, glucose tests, mammograms for women, and prostate cancer screenings for men. It is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for the appropriate time to start screening.
Check your heart
Finally, keeping an eye on your heart health is essential to staying in good health in 2023 and beyond. The leading cause of death worldwide is cardiovascular disease because many people don’t know they have a heart condition until it’s too late. The best way to prevent or get to know if you’re at risk for heart disease is to take a proper cardiac evaluation. This includes laboratory services, imaging exams, and the guidance of specialists. They will assess your family history of heart disease and any risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and physical activity levels.
Heart disease: a silent threat
Heart disease is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. Plaque is a fatty substance made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other materials that can build up over time. Plaque narrows your arteries and restricts blood flow through them. This reduces your ability to carry oxygen-rich blood to all parts of your body — including your heart, brain, and legs.
Because heart disease tends to develop silently and without symptoms, it’s important for people to know their risk factors so they can take steps to prevent problems from developing or spreading through the body.
When speaking of heart disease, we’re referring to a group of heart conditions. The most common types of heart disease are coronary artery disease (CAD) and high blood pressure (hypertension). As we said before, heart disease develops silently, and sudden cardiac arrest may be the first symptom. If you know you have heart disease, you must be on constant guard against any signs of chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and lightheadedness. These are all symptoms of a heart attack that can lead to death if not treated immediately.
What can you do to take care of your heart?
When it comes to heart health, early diagnosis is the key to preventing heart disease or any other type. This requires screening tests starting at 20 years of age, according to the American Heart Foundation.
A cardiac evaluation package includes specialists, laboratory services, and imaging exams. These services are required to determine the following aspects:
- The risk
- The extent of existing disease
- the best plan of action.
This package commonly involves a complete checkup with your doctor, including blood tests and an electrocardiogram (EKG). You should have this evaluation every five years after age 20 if you don’t have any symptoms of heart disease. If you’re a patient with risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you need more frequent evaluations, at least once a year and more often if needed.
Finally, the best way to prevent heart disease is to live a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating well, exercising regularly, maintaining a normal weight, and avoiding tobacco products. There’s no secret formula for good health; follow these tips until they become a part of your routine, and you’ll live a long, active, and healthy life.
