Vascular Health Reminder
How’s Your Vascular Health?
From time to time we need a reminder of what’s important. Of the many things on your personal list, we’re hoping “vascular health” is near the top since it’s vital to your overall wellbeing. Just to recap, remember that vascular healthcare is the medical field that measures how well your blood vessels are functioning in your body. This is because it has a direct impact on how well your body delivers blood to your organs and back to your heart.
If you have poor vascular health, this can lead to reduced blood flow, as well as an increased risk for various diseases like hypertension and diabetes. In order to improve the health of your veins, arteries, and capillaries, there are specific things you need to do on a regular basis that will help increase their strength and flexibility.
Sadly, vascular health isn’t something people think about often, but it has a direct impact on your quality of life. The thing is, your vascular health can potentially be improved with a few lifestyle changes and tweaks. By incorporating a few different habits, you can help your blood vessels stay strong and healthy.
What Can You Do To Improve Your Vascular Health?
There are plenty of ways to improve your vascular health, but the key is to do so in a way that is sustainable for you. That means, you need to find a way to incorporate it into your daily life so it’s not a chore. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do that are relatively simple and will have a lasting impact on your vascular health.
- Stay Active – One of the best things you can do to improve your vascular health is to stay active on a regular basis. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hit the gym, though that is a great option. Rather, you can incorporate activity into your daily life in a variety of different ways. You can walk more, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and get off the bus a stop earlier. Depending on your age and fitness level, you can also try more advanced activities like rock climbing or indoor climbing.
- Eat A Healthy Diet – No one likes to be told what to eat, but it’s worth repeating. If you want to improve your vascular health, you’ll want to make sure you’re eating a better diet than you probably are right now. This doesn’t mean you have to go raw vegan, or go gluten-free. What it does mean is that you should try to avoid unhealthy foods as often as you can. Don’t forget to get enough protein! Proteins are essential for vascular health.
- Manage Your Stress – One of the best ways to improve your vascular health is to manage your stress levels. Easier said than done, right? Well, you can do this by exercising (that whole “stay active” part above), getting enough sleep, and finding ways to relax and de-stress in your daily life. Try meditating, breathing exercises, or even reading to help lower your stress levels.
- Maintain A Healthy Weight – This goes hand-in-hand with the bullet point above about eating a healthy diet. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for improving your vascular health. If you’re currently overweight, or obese, you can improve your vascular health by losing weight and getting to a healthy weight.
- Wear Comfortable Shoes – Random final bullet point? Not really. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t think about our feet very often. However, it’s incredibly important to make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes that support your feet. Whether you’re walking to and from work or hitting the gym, make sure you’re wearing shoes that support your feet and protect them from injury.
The Benefits Of Improving Your Vascular Health
Improving your vascular health has a number of different benefits. Most notably, it can lower your risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and heart disease. Having strong, flexible blood vessels is important for your overall health and well-being. Stronger, healthier blood vessels will also lower your risk for age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, which means you’ll be able to enjoy your life longer.
Now that you have the beginnings of a game plan, let’s get on the same page and work together. Call our vascular care doctors at 301-276-5670 or schedule an appointment today.