Looking for help living a heart-healthy life? Dr. Paul Keinarth and Dr. Kelly Alberda at Family Health Center – your family doctors in Austin, TX – are here to help.

5 Tips for a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle

Heart health is critical to both longevity and quality of life. Regularly visiting your family doctor to keep a check on your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and general health is vital. Below, the team at Family Health Center in Austin, TX shares five additional key tips to help you keep your heart healthy and strong.

1. Be Mindful When Eating

Food has the power to harm or heal, so it’s important that you eat well. Unless your doctor says otherwise, you don’t necessarily have to give up your favorite foods. Instead, it’s about balancing your diet. Keep unhealthy items to a minimum and add more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean protein to your diet. Also, cook with olive and canola oils.

2. Stay Hydrated

Without proper hydration, blood can thicken, which makes it much more difficult to pump through the body. Staying hydrated takes some of the work off your heart.

3. Make Physical Activity a Habit

It’s no secret that exercise is important for heart health, but getting the recommended 30 to 60 minutes per day can seem like an impossible feat. The good news is that it doesn’t all need to be done in the gym or at once. Instead, work on being active throughout your day in ways such as taking the stairs, playing with your kids, taking a walk after dinner, or dancing while you cook and clean. Focus on making it a habit.

4. Keep Your Weight in Check

Excess weight increases the risk of heart trouble. Physical activity and eating well can help you shed some weight, but it may be necessary to work with your doctor for additional weight loss.

5. Learn to Manage Stress in a Healthy Way

Stress is a normal part of life, but it can raise your blood pressure. Often, people turn to unhealthy activities to relieve stress, which can have a significant negative impact on your health. It’s important that you learn to manage stress in healthy ways, such as hobbies, journaling, or yoga, as opposed to overeating, smoking, or drinking excessively.

If you’re searching for a family doctor to help you stay healthy and live well, call (512) 459-9889 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Keinarth and Dr. Kelly Alberda at Family Health Center in Austin, TX today.