Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans, leading to nearly 700,000 deaths each year.

While there some risk factors for heart disease that you can’t control, you can take steps to control some risk factors. Our team at AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte wants to share some tips this month on doing just that.

Can Exercise Prevent Heart Disease?

While there’s no way to 100% prevent heart disease, exercise is one key step in the right direction! When you exercise, you are strengthening the muscles in your body.

You may never have thought about it, but your heart is one of those muscles! When you work out, you’re giving a workout to your heart. This strengthens it and helps it pump blood more efficiently.

Good Aerobic Exercises for Your Heart

• Cardio machines
• Spinning
• Running
• Swimming
• Walking
• Hiking
• Aerobics classes
• Dancing
• Cross country skiing
• Kickboxing

How Can Stress Affect Your Heart Health?

Stress is a fact of life. In a lot of cases, small amounts of stress can actually be beneficial in motivating us. But too much stress can have harmful effects on our health.

When it comes to your heart, excessive stress can have a dual effect. First, it can cause physical issues by exposing your body to too much stress hormone. But it can also cause problems for health by making you more likely to make poor lifestyle choices, including overeating and smoking.

Ways to Manage Stress

• Keep a positive attitude.
• Accept the things you cannot control.
• Be assertive instead of aggressive.
• Try meditation, yoga or tai chi for stress management.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

We are open! Visit AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte for a wellness visit to see where your health currently stands and how you can improve it.