Dr Jean Chen let us know already that heart health is important for cardiovascular health. But now, you may also want to consider your brain’s future.
Recent research shows that brain health is closely linked to heart health. This means that you should start caring for your heart sooner rather than waiting. So what’s the link between the two and how can we ensure they function optimally in our lives? Continue reading for more information.
Healthy Heart = Bigger Brain
A 2017 study in Neurology revealed that taking care of your heart early in your 20s can lead to better brain health later in life.
518 people were tracked for 30 year to test this theory. At the beginning of the study, 518 people were surveyed about their heart health. They had follow-up exams every 2 to 5, and a brain scan every 25 years.
Researchers found that participants who had a higher brain volume than their head were healthier. It was found that participants with large brain volumes relative to their head size at the time of the study maintained higher volumes over the years. The brain shrinkage of middle-aged people was associated with lower cognitive function and increased stroke risk.
However, even if your 20s are over, there is still much you can do to improve the health of your heart and brain.
Risks to your Heart and Brain
JAMA research also published 2017 found that middle age people at higher risk of experiencing a stroke, heart attack or other serious health problems were more likely develop Alzheimer’s Disease.
A group of 346 50-year-olds was examined for potential cardiovascular problems. These same participants had lived for almost 25 years. A brain scan was performed and significant results were obtained. 61% of participants who had experienced at least 2 heart attacks in their middle age had amyloid protein pieces, which is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Even though these brain changes are not always indicative of Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s), this study suggests that it’s never too early to care for your heart if the future of your brain health.
How to Keep Your Heart and Brain Health
After reading this amazing research, you may be wondering how to improve your brain health as well your heart health.
It’s simple. It’s actually the American Heart Association’s list of heart health factors, Life’s Easy 7. These recommendations were used as a guideline by the Neurology researchers to assess the health of their participants’ hearts when they were still in their 20s. Every point participants missed from Life’s Simple 7 resulted in one year of age-related shrinkage in their brain scans.
You can improve your heart and brain health by following these steps. It is a smart idea to get started now. This handy guide will help you understand all seven points.
1. Stop Smoking
Smoking can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Give up smoking.
2. Get More Exercise
Regular physical activity can strengthen your heart, lower your blood pressure and improve your overall health. Every week, you should aim to get at least 150 minutes moderate exercise.
3. Lose Weight
The weight loss will reduce stress on the heart and blood vessels. Regular exercise could help you keep a healthy weight.
4. Improve Your Diet
A heart-healthy diet increases healthy products from all food groups and restricts ingredients that adversely affect your heart without any nutritional value.
5. Reduce Your Blood Sugar Level
Reduce the sugar in your diet to be more healthy. The majority of the sugar we consume is converted by our bodies to blood sugar (glucose), which we use for energy. But too much strains our hearts.
6. Keep Your Cholesterol in Check
It is possible to maintain a healthy heart by eating a heart-healthy diet.
7. Keep your blood pressure under control
High blood pressure can lead to stroke or heart disease. This is because your heart and arteries are under strain. The following 6 measures can also be helpful in lowering your blood pressure.