The reason why doctors often advise to take extra care of your heart is because it is one of the most sensitive organs in a human body. But the question always pops up: how do we take care of our heart and that too in such toxic environment!

In order to keep our heart fit and fine, consulting a doctor on a regular basis is just not enough; paying attention on lifestyle and eating habits is equally important. Heart specialists believe that engaging in healthy lifestyle habits can prevent almost half of the health diseases and keep issues like bad cholesterol, clogging of arteries, and high or low blood pressure at bay.

Here are some tips to keep your heart healthy and happy!   

Say Yes to Healthy Fats, Avoid Trans Fat: Fats such as saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated are an essential part of a healthy diet. However, trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are hazardous for the heart and can cause heart disease and various kinds of metabolic problems. Trans fats clog the arteries by building up bad cholesterol and lowering good cholesterol levels. Cutting it down from your diet improves the circulatory system of the body.

Good Sleep: Sleeping forms an essential routine of our lifestyle. A good quality sleep is important for a healthy heart. Sleep deprivation may expose you to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Most adults need at least 6 to 9 hours of sleep in a day. Sleeping for longer or shorter hours can disrupt your body clock and you are bound to feel exhausted and low on energy. If this habit is continued for a longer duration then it could lead to serious heart issues.

Go for long walks: If doing heavy exercise is not your thing then long walks can be extremely helpful for you. Long walks are not just beneficial for keeping your healthy heart but also good for your overall health. Combining it with yoga and meditation is even better as it uplifts you mentally and physically.    

Don’t Sit in One Position for Too Long: According to various researches, sitting in one position for too long might actually prove fatal for your body. Analyzing the combined results of different observational studies that included nearly 800,000 people, researchers found out that people who sit for long hours are at a risk of 147 percent increase in cardiovascular events. Sitting in a single position can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot). People with sedentary jobs generally face this problem a lot.

Avoid Second-hand Smoke: The fact that “smoking kills” is not news anymore, but not many of us take it seriously. However, as per a study, the risk of developing heart diseases is about 25 to 30 percent higher for people exposed to second-hand smoke at home or work. As per the best cardiologists in India, exposure to tobacco smoke contributes to about 34,000 premature heart disease deaths and 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year. Smoke emitted through cigarettes promotes the development of plaque buildup in the arteries.

Although the advancements in science and technology, and coming up of state-of-the-art hospitals such as Medanta help in getting the best treatment for heart-related problems and issues, it is important to make these healthy habits a part of your daily ritual.