Good Heart Health Equals Good Brain Health
When it comes to good lifestyle habits that help prevent heart disease, it’s common knowledge that eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol are key. But preventing heart disease isn’t the only reason to adopt these healthy habits. The choices you make every day can affect your brain as well as your heart.
Dementia Risk Factors
Evidence shows that healthy blood vessels in your brain are closely linked to your overall heart health. Some health conditions and unhealthy habits can damage blood vessels, putting your heart and brain at risk of severe problems. Cardiovascular disease and vascular dementia share common risk factors such as obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Cut Your Risk of Dementia
Taking control of your health early might reduce the chances of dementia later in life. Talk with your doctor, know your numbers and get heart disease risk factors under control. Keep your heart and brain healthy by taking the following steps:
Maintain a healthy blood pressure
Prevent or control diabetes
Quit smoking.
Get active with regular exercise.
Keep your cholesterol in check with a healthy, low-fat diet and cholesterol-lowering medication. These may reduce your risk of strokes and heart attacks that could lead to vascular dementia.
Your head and heart will thank you.