As a health care professional, you know better than anyone of the importance of taking care of your heart. Unfortunately, many health care workers are like the plumber who has a toilet that is always broke! The business of caring for patients often causes you to neglect your health. Giving your best as a health care worker requires a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Reduce Your Sodium Intake
Excess levels of sodium increase the risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. High levels of sodium are in foods such as canned soup and deli meat. It is crucial to choose foods that are low in sodium content. Fresh fish, chicken, or turkey breast without skin or marinade, and dried beans and peas are excellent low sodium food choices. The American Heart Association can furnish you with tips on how to lower your consumption of sodium.
Exercise
Physical activity is one of the most efficient ways to prevent heart disease and stroke. Exercise keeps your weight down and increases your levels of HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol that flushes out artery-clogging LDL cholesterol. Remember that physical activity can be anything that moves your body and burns calories, so do not worry if you cannot manage more strenuous activity such as running.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking is horrible for your health. It causes respiratory illnesses, cancer, and it increases your risk of coronary heart disease. Worse still, smoking increases your risk for peripheral artery disease and aneurysm. The good news is that resources are available to help you quit smoking, such as the National Cancer Institute. As a health care worker, you probably instruct your patients not to smoke, so follow your advice and put them down!
Rest
Sleep is critical for good health, and most adults need around seven hours of it daily. Furthermore, getting sleep is not enough if the quality of the rest is not adequate. You may have sleep apnea, which is a condition that causes you to wake up throughout the night, causing you to feel tired all day. Sleep apnea is a risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. Health care workers typically work lengthy shifts, so make sure you give your body the adequate rest it needs.
Mental Health
This one may be a surprise, but there is a link between your mental and physical health. Although no studies have established a relationship between stress, anxiety and depression with heart health, they may affect behaviors that exacerbate the risk of heart disease. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, and overeating are all behaviors that increase the risk. The National Institute of Mental Health publishes information regarding depression and chronic illness.
As a health care employee, it is vital that you take care of your health. It is also crucial to perform work that is satisfying and helps you reach your full potential. Power Personnel provides work opportunities for all levels of health care professionals. See what they can do for you!
