Show Your Heart Some Love

Taking Good Care of Your Cardiovascular Health

It’s February, and that means taking the time to show the important people in your life just how much they mean to you. With feelings of love in the air this time of year, the health experts at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital are here to share some ways to look after one of your most vital organs!

Get Moving

Leading a more active lifestyle is one of the easiest ways to get your blood pumping and reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It is recommended that the average adult should work in at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

While many people picture powerlifting and running on a track when they think of physical activity, it doesn’t have to be! Some simple ways to get up and get moving include:

• Walking
• Hiking
• Jogging
• Yoga
• Bike riding
• Roller skating and rollerblading
• Gardening
• Rock climbing
• Playing sports
• Dancing
• Martial arts

Keep Stress at Arm’s Length

Whether you’ve had a big presentation at work or you’ve been stuck in traffic, odds are you’ve experienced stress at some point. While this can be perfectly fine in small doses, chronic stress can take a toll on your cardiovascular health, leaving you more susceptible to heart disease and cardiac events.

Some simple ways that you can ward off unwanted stress include:

• Journaling
• Listening to music
• Taking a hot shower or bath
• Reading your favorite book
• Spending time with loved ones
• Yoga
• Mindfulness meditation
• Seeking professional therapy
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products is the number one cause of preventable disease—including cardiovascular disease. When smoking cigarettes and inhaling secondhand smoke, hundreds of harmful chemicals enter your body, making it harder for your heart to pump oxygenated blood throughout your body.

Quitting smoking can help to reduce your risk of developing the following heart-related health issues:

• Aneurysm
• Coronary heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Stroke

Cardiology Services in Ridgecrest, California

At Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, our highly trained and experienced cardiac support team is dedicated to providing specialized cardiovascular care services in Ridgecrest and surrounding areas. To learn more about our cardiovascular care services or schedule an appointment, visit our website or give us a call at (760) 446-3551 (Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM).