Lets continue to explore diseases associated with old age that affect our heart.
HEART DISEASES - The Aging Heart's Enemy
Heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure become more common with age. Poor diet, lack of exercises, and stress can make things go worse.
As people age, their risk of heart diseases increases due to several physiological and life style-related factors. some of the key causes of heart diseases associated with old age include:
Atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Heart valve disease, Arrhythmias(irregular heart beat), Heart failure, Diabetes and metabolic syndrome, Obesity and sedentary life style, Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, Hormonal changes, and Weakened immunity.
How to keep your heart young;
- Regular exercises like swimming, walking, jogging and yoga.
- Healthy diet (low in saturated fats, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains)
- Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
- Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol
- Cut down on salt and sugars
- Regular medical check-ups
Its important to take care of ourselves when we still can, all these diseases do not come in a blink of an eye rather come gradually because of our lifestyle and the choices we opt in our lives, lets prioritize plant based diet and adapt to regular exercises as part of our lifestyle.
by TURUHUKIRE PETER JUNIOR, MCO