Top 5 Tips For A Healthy Heart

Our Allcare Pharmacists provide their top tips for keeping our hearts happy and healthy:

Keep your Cholesterol at healthy levels

High cholesterol often doesn’t show any signs or symptoms, so it is important that we get our cholesterol checked regularly. This is a service available at your local Allcare Pharmacy. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries, causing a process called atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. Factors affecting cholesterol include obesity, diabetes, lack of exercise, smoking, stress, poor diet, age, and family history.

Look after your Blood Pressure

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage your heart and blood vessels in a variety of ways. We offer blood pressure testing in all stores and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (available in selected stores) to support your needs. It is important to understand your blood pressure readings.

Optimal Reading for Blood Pressure:

Optimal blood pressure reading for adults is generally considered to be around 120/80 mmHg.
This reading signifies a healthy blood pressure level, indicating a balanced flow of blood through the arteries and veins.

Low Blood Pressure. Also known as Hypotension:

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is characterized by readings consistently below 90/60 mmHg.
Symptoms of hypotension may include dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, fatigue, and blurred vision.
It is essential to consult a healthcare professional if experiencing persistent low blood pressure, as it may indicate an underlying health condition that requires medical attention.

High Blood Pressure. Also known as Hypertension:

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is indicated by readings consistently above 130/80 mmHg.
Hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications.
Lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, and medication as prescribed by a healthcare professional, can help manage and control high blood pressure effectively.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. Within one year of giving up smoking your risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
We offer a Smoking Cessation service in-store to kickstart your no-smoking journey - by asking you a few quick questions about your smoking habits and lifestyle, we can help you choose the product and advise what is best suited to your needs.

Follow a healthy balanced diet

Have 5 to 7 servings of fruit and veg a day. Be mindful of calorie intake and portion size.
Eat more oily fish which is rich in omega 3.
Try to reduce the amount of saturated fats like butter and trans fats like fried foods and cakes.
Be careful of added salt content in processed foods. Adults should eat less than 6g (1 teaspoon) of salt a day in total, as it can impact your blood pressure.
Limit your alcohol intake. Click here to learn how alcohol can affect your physical and mental health

Manage your stress levels

Managing our stress is cardio-protective. If you feel stressed, your blood produces more hormones - too many of these hormones continuously and over time can damage your arteries and may lead to high blood pressure or contribute to high cholesterol levels.
Exercise is a great stress buster and mood enhancer. Being active can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. We are recommended to do 150 minutes of regular exercise a week.

We offer a number of health services at your local Allcare Pharmacy to keep your heart happy and healthy including blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol testing, and smoking cessation. In addition, the pharmacist can advise you on supplements to support cardiovascular health. For more details and information, visit your local Allcare Pharmacy.