Show your heart more love!

Show your heart more love!

There are a number of things that you can start doing today to improve your heart health!

Quit smoking

Did you know that within one year of quitting smoking, your risk of heart disease is reduced by half? Within 15 years, the risk is the same as a person who never smoked. Smokers are up to 4 times more likely to have heart disease than non-smokers.

Why is smoking bad for your heart?

• It can cause your blood to thicken and clot
• The nicotine in cigarettes raises blood pressure
• It causes atherosclerosis, which damages your blood vessel walls

Eat healthily
A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats and dietary cholesterol lead to the buildup of plaque in the walls of your blood vessels. Over time, these plaques narrow or completely block the arteries, leading to heart attack and stroke. It is important to eat adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and limited amounts of fast foods, refined grain products and refined sugars.

If you struggle to find a diet that suits you or maintain a healthy diet, our experienced dietitians are keen to get you on the right track!

Be physically active
Doing physical activities allows your heart muscles to work harder and become stronger. They also keep your blood vessels flexible so that the blood can reach all your organs and prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you struggle to find the motivation to be active or do not know what types of exercises are right for you, our Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can help create individualised exercise programs based on your needs. Explore our exercise classes here! 

Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, learning to balance healthy eating and physical activity can help you lose weight more easily and keep it off. To maintain a stable weight, make sure your energy (caloric) intake is equal to the energy you use. Whether you want to change your diet, or your activity, or both, our team of allied health professionals can help guide you! 

Reduce alcohol consumption
In the long-term, drinking alcohol excessively can lead to ongoing increased heart rate, high blood pressure, weakened heart muscle and irregular heartbeat. So the less you drink, the lower the risk of heart disease you have. If you are not sure how much you should drink or struggle to reduce your alcohol consumption, it is time to talk to our team of social workers. 

Reduce your stress level
Prolonged stress causes high blood pressure, is linked to heart disease and makes people more prone to heart attacks. People who are stressed are more likely to smoke, eat unhealthy foods and exercise less, which are all risk factors for heart disease. Exercise, minimising phone use and screen time, practising self-care and spending quality time with others can help to reduce stress.

We have lots of social engagement opportunities to help reduce your stress including I-Create Classes at our Health and Wellness Centres, Buddy Program and Out & About services. Get involved today!

At Southern Cross Care, our clients are our number one priority. Whether they use our Health & Wellness Allied Health services, visit our Respite centres, undergo a Restorative Care Program or go on one of our exciting Out & About trips; our person-centred approach ensures every client is supported in their journey to be Better For Life.