Plaque can collect not only on your pearly whites but also inside your arteries, or blood vessels that take oxygenated blood to your various cells, tissues and organs. You don’t want to have arterial clogging because it can keep the heart muscles from obtaining enough oxygen, which is basically the reason why a heart attack happens in the first place.
Angioplasty is the name of the treatment employed for unclogging the arteries to make sure that the heart muscles are getting enough oxygen. While it can definitely keep the heart of someone with severe clogging of the arteries out of harm’s way, the problem with angioplasty is that it’s so expensive and there are also various health risks and serious complications associated with it.
It’s because of these reasons why it is a good idea for you to do your best to keep at bay the need to undergo angioplasty, and such can be done by taking good care of your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system.
Keep on reading if having angioplasty is an option that you do not consider — below you will come across some of the most simple steps to keeping your heart out of harm’s way. Don’t forget to share this article on your various social media sites later on so that your health-conscious family members and friends may also be able to take the following steps:
Quit Cigarette Smoking
If you’re not a smoker, keep up the good work! But if you are, consider quitting right this very instant! Nothing can damage your arteries more than cigarette smoking because there are thousands of poisonous substances present in cigarette smoke. Besides, it’s not just your heart that is placed in danger by smoking, but also your lungs and many other organs.
Drink Alcohol in Moderation
A lot of people are fond of coupling excessive alcohol intake with smoking, and health authorities say that it’s something that could cause them to die sooner or later. Needless to say, it’s a good idea to keep your alcohol consumption in moderation. Another good thing about moderate intake of alcohol, which is high in calories, is that it can fend off obesity.
Maintain an Ideal Weight
Speaking of obesity, it’s of utmost importance for you to drop those unnecessary pounds. Being obese or overweight can put a lot of stress on your ticker. Aside from deadly heart disease, there are many other serious health-related nightmares that may come your way if you fail to attain as well as maintain a more ideal weight.
Opt for Healthy Eating
Ensure that you add plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to your everyday diet because they are high in fiber, a nutrient that helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and thus fend off arterial clogging. Definitely, health authorities say that you should considerably limit your intake of foods loaded with refined sugar, saturated fat and bad cholesterol.
Get Your Regular Dose of Exercise
Going for healthy foods daily is best paired with exercising on most days of the week — every session should be at least 20 minutes for best results. Exercising helps strengthen the heart, plus it promotes a blood pressure reading that’s within the normal range. High blood pressure or hypertension is regarded as a risk factor for heart disease.
Keep Stress to a Minimum
Last but not least, it’s a wonderful idea for you to reduce your stress levels. That’s because leading a stressful life can in fact cause problems such as high blood pressure, elevated bad cholesterol levels and increased blood sugar, all of which can easily wreak havoc on the arteries and heart, too.
