Four surprising ways to boost your heart health
As much as 80 percent of premature heart disease is preventable by making specific lifestyle choices. Some strategies, such as exercising and managing weight, are well known. "A small change in your everyday routine can potentially have a big impact in the long run, " says preventive cardiologist Dr. Beth Abramson, a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke (中风) Foundation of Canada.
Get eight hours of sleep.
If we don't have enough sleep, our bodies also have more difficulty controlling blood pressure, inflammation and glucose levels.
Doing good for others helps your self-respect and relieves stress. Research issued in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2016 showed that a feeling of purpose in life is linked to a lower likelihood of heart attack and stroke. Depending on the type of work you do, volunteering might even increase your physical activity.
Avoid polluted air.
Exposure to this kind of pollution over time raises your risk of heart disease. Try to get your outdoor exercise far away from highways and industrial districts, and spend more time indoors when the air quality index is poor.
Laugh.
A 2016 study in the Journal of Epidemiology of more than 20，000 people over the age of 65 found a lower risk of cardiovascular (心血管的) disease in those who reported laughing every day. It may also serve as a mini-workout, helping your circulation and protecting the health of your arteries (动脉).
A. Be kind to others.
B. Engage in volunteer work.
C. You should laugh everyday.
D. Laughter reduces stress and depression.
E. But others may not have crossed your mind.
F. These factors can all have an impact on heart health.
G. Even short periods of it are unhealthy for people with other cardiovascular risks
