Although the news over the past year and a half has largely been dominated by the novel coronavirus, there are many other illnesses which affect a significant number of people in the UK and around the world. Heart problems are one of the most common causes of death and in the UK alone there are over 7 million people who live with a circulatory illness or heart problem.
In order to help people who suffer from these illnesses, research is always being done to look for new and improved treatments for them, which can both prolong life expectancy and improve quality of life, like these thorough QT studies for example https://www.richmondpharmacology.com/specialist-services/tqt
There are many different conditions relating to the heart and the circulatory system, some are much more common than others – for example, there are over 100,000 admissions to hospital every year in the UK from heart attacks alone.
Heart and circulatory problems are also something that can often be hereditary – things like high blood pressure for example can often be inherited from parents, so if your parents have a heart problem it is even more important that you keep your heart as healthy as you can and get it checked regularly or if you feel that something may be wrong. Vascular dementia is also something that you are more likely to get if you have a family history of heart disease.
Keeping your heart healthy is something that you can do – making certain changes to your lifestyle will go a long way when it comes to caring for your heart. Some of the things that you can do to help your heart include:
Stopping Smoking – Smoking is a huge killer and has a significant impact on the heart and circulatory system. Stopping is really hard as smoking is so addictive, but there are many alternatives that are available to help you quit as well as various support services and groups. From talking therapies, to nicotine patches to electronic cigarettes – you can try out what works best for you to help you to pack in the cigarettes for good!
Eating Healthily – Heart health has a lot to do with diet – avoiding fatty foods, processed foods and foods high in cholesterol can greatly reduce your chances of developing heart disease. The arteries get blocked with fats over time and this can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Fresh fruits and vegetables as well as wholegrains, beans and pulses are all great for heart health.
Exercise – Exercise is not only good for your heart, but it is also good for your mental health too. There are so many different forms of exercise you are bound to find something that you can do and that you enjoy – from yoga and Pilates to running, cycling or swimming – look for a class near you and learn a new sport, it is all good news for your heart and mind!