The heart is the most important organ of the body. The function of this muscular organ is to pump blood throughout the body through repetitive contractions. It is basically the organ that keeps every human being alive because it pumps blood that contains oxygen and nutrients to the parts of the body, as well as blood that contains excretory waste products of metabolism to the organs intended to send them out of the body. This organ is so vital that it has to be kept healthy all the time. Normally, factors that take their toll on the heart are poor diet and lifestyle. In order to have a healthy heart, a person has to make sure that he treats his body right through eating a balanced diet, engaging in physical activities, managing stress well and getting rid of habits that are dangerous to the heart. Here are 10 tips to have a healthy heart:

10. Read food labels.

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When you go to the grocery store to shop for foods, make sure that you read the food label of each food supply first before putting it in your cart. Every food packet has a label on it which informs the buyer about the nutrients and other substances that the food contains. Understanding what substances you should get rid of when buying food is one of the keys in having a healthy heart. Those that have high amounts of sugar, cholesterol and saturated fats are a big no-no.

9. Check your family history.

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If a person comes from a family with a history of heart diseases, he is more likely to develop heart disease too at some point in his life. Checking your family history is important in having a healthy heart because when one knows that developing heart diseases runs in his blood, he will be able to find the need to be more cautious when it comes to his habits such as smoking, drinking and too much eating. Knowing that one is at high risk of developing higher risk will give him the urge to take care of his body well.

8. Learn to manage your stress levels.

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For someone who wants to keep his heart healthy, learning to manage his stress levels is important. Stress is a major factor that affects the health of the heart. When a person is stressed out, he has the tendency to fail to eat properly and to have the urge to smoke and drink more. When stress is not managed well, it could lead to raised blood pressure and weight gain as one resorts to stress-eating.

7. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly.

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Technically speaking, people who have higher cholesterol levels are more likely to suffer from heart diseases than those who have low levels. Same goes for blood pressure, where people who have higher blood pressure have shorter life expectancy than those who have low blood pressure. A person who has high cholesterol levels have more fatty deposits in his blood, and these deposits are among the major factors that affect blood circulation and lead to the development of coronary heart disease and stroke.

6. Manage your weight.

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People who are overweight and obese carry a lot of extra weight in their bodies in the form of fats. When there is too much fat in the body, there is a higher risk of life-threatening conditions such as Type II diabetes and coronary heart disease. Keeping your weight normal helps prevent the development of heart diseases, high blood pressure and stroke. A person who is obese should start managing his weight by eating right and becoming more active.

5. Get active.

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Another great way of having a healthy heart is by exercise. Engaging in physical activities makes the heart become strong enough to be able to pump more blood through the body and work at a maximum level without much strain. Recent studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have a slower resting heart rate because the heart needs less effort to pump blood. Physically active people also have lower risk of heart disease. 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every day is good for the heart.

4. Monitor your alcohol.

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Based on studies, long-term drinking can cause severe damages to the heart as it increases blood pressure, damages the heart muscles and leads to weight gain. When a person drinks for a long period of time, his heart muscles weaken, leading to a condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy– the thickening of the heart muscle between the ventricles of the heart. While it is not inherently bad to drink, people who take alcohol should set limitations for themselves to maintain a healthy heart.

3. Watch your diet.

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Diet is a very important factor that people who want to have a healthy heart should always keep an eye on. Having a healthy diet lets one reduce his risk of developing heart diseases, especially coronary heart disease. Aside from that, a healthy diet also increases one’s chances of surviving a heart attack. Eating a balanced diet that contains plenty of oily fish, starchy foods and fruits and vegetables helps one get rid of substances that are bad for the heart, such as too much saturated fat and sugar.

2. Cut down on salt.

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Eating too much salt leads to raised blood pressure. Salt makes the body hold more water, and when the body stores too much water, blood pressure shoots up. Initially, too much salt intake causes a slight decrease in the amount of blood reaching the heart. When this happens, the heart does not work well as it should because it does not receive enough oxygen. If someone eats too much salt for a long period of time, high blood pressure may be already be too severe that the arteries become entirely clogged, resulting to heart attack. This is why patients who have heart failure are advised to avoid foods with too much sodium.

1. Quit Smoking.

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Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits anyone can have. Based on studies, someone who smokes is more likely to suffer from heart attack than someone who does not. Smoking affects the structure of the heart and the function of the blood vessels as it causes a buildup of plaque in the arteries. When this happens, coronary heart disease develops. This disease stems from the hardening of the plaque and the narrowing of the arteries, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to and from the heart. The moment a smoker stops smoking, his risk of developing heart diseases begins to reduce. I hope you have enjoyed reading this top 10 list for more great lists you can always visit Addictive Lists.