Marking Heart Month with Right at Home Loughton, Redbridge & Waltham Forest

Here are some helpful tips to improve your heart health and support the British Heart Foundation during Heart Month.

Tip 1: Eat a nutritious diet

• Try to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and fibre which can help you to feel full and energised.
• Including lean proteins and whole grains in your meal is also a great source of energy and feeling full.
• Try to avoid processed foods, this includes fried foods, saturated fats and additional sugars. These types of foods are full of preservatives and unhealthy fats which give you a short burst of energy followed by an energy/ sugar crash.
• Please click on the link for more information on different food groups and how they affect your heart health Healthy Eating Guide | Right at Home Loughton, Redbridge & Waltham Forest.
• It is also important to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Tip 2: Stay active

• Regular exercise helps to improve muscle ability allowing oxygen to travel through your lungs more easily and supports blood flow.
• Activities do not have to be intense. Walking is a great way to exercise. Try to be active for 30 minutes each/most days. Guide to Keeping Active | Right at Home Loughton, Redbridge & Waltham Forest.
• Exercise can also help reduce stress which often puts a burden on your heart due to increased blood pressure.

Tip 3: Stop smoking

• Smoking increases your risk of developing heart disease.
• If you stop smoking within 12 hours your heat rate drops. This is because the carbon monoxide level in your blood reduces and oxygen can flow more quickly.
• The NHS provides free services to help you stop smoking. You can access the service at NHS stop smoking services help you quit - NHS (www.nhs.uk).

Tip 4: Monitor your blood pressure

• Having high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
• Low blood pressure can equally have detrimental effects on your health.
• Regularly monitor your blood pressure and consult your doctor if it is too high or low.
• Please refer to our blood pressure guide for more information Blood Pressure Guide For All Ages | Right at Home.

Tip 5: Get regular check-ups at your GP

• If you are a UK resident aged between 40-74 you can book a free health check every 5 years.
• You can arrange tests with your GP or nurse to regularly monitor your health including blood pressure and diabetic checks. This can help to detect potential heart problems early on. Health Awareness Guide | Right at Home Loughton, Redbridge & Waltham Forest.
• Your GP will be able to provide you with preventative care and advise tailored uniquely to you.

Rolled out in 2022, RevivR app is free to download and can teach users CPR in just 15 minutes. The app provides live feedback using a phone or tablet camera and can advise on changes to speed, pressure and movement. This will help equip people to carry out CPR if they ever witness the worse happening to a family member, friend or bystander.

At Right at Home Loughton, Redbridge & Waltham Forest we do all we can to support our clients to stay in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. For more information on our homecare services in Loughton, Redbridge & Waltham Forest contact us on 02037636074.