Valentine’s Day lovers have another reason to celebrate this year, as findings show that being in love and being loved helps to keep us healthy and are particularly good for our hearts.
Research identified by the World Heart Federation showed that affection and kindness in our lives helps us to maintain a good mental attitude, while enhancing health through its positive impact on immune systems and the heart.
A loving atmosphere, whether from friends, family, or a partner also reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, which are recognised as major psychological risk factors that cause heart disease.
One in three of us will die from developing heart disease or stroke. If we smoke, or have a high cholesterol level and high blood pressure, this will increase by 20 per cent our risk for the next 10 years of developing heart disease by the age of 50 for men and 60 for women.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle and love in our lives can have a positive impact in keeping our hearts healthy, says the Irish Heart Foundation. Finding the right balance between physical and emotional health is so important. The presence of social support and social networks, including family and friends, in improving health and preventing premature death are very important especially when taken together with all the preventative actions such as stopping smoking, taking regular physical exercise, and healthy eating.
The Irish Heart Foundation's advice is to:
• Keep in touch with family and friends
• Reduce levels of stress by finding time to relax and by getting a peaceful sleep.
• Eat a variety of foods and include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Eat less fatty foods and fries. Drink alcohol in moderation.
• Be more active - about 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.
• If you smoke try to stop. Advice and support from the national Quitline 1850 201 203 or from your GP, pharmacist or health board can provide you with the best chance ever of quitting.
From the Community Nutrition & Dietetic Dept, Midands HSE.
Email [email protected], tel (044 ) 9353220.
