You may think that to do something good for your heart, you have to make radical changes. Perhaps you have heard that you need to cut out your favorite foods or that you should get regular, intensive exercise. While a good diet and an active lifestyle are essential to your heart health, you may not realize that making smaller changes can also keep your heart fit. Here are five simple things you can do for good cardiac health.

Take your medication regularly. If you take medicine for a heart-related issue, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, make sure you take it regularly. Not only will this keep you feeling your best, but you can also better recognize side effects to the medication. If you have trouble taking pills every day, consider investing in an alarm to serve as a reminder.

Manage your mental health. If you feel sad or stressed, you may be doing damage to your heart. See your doctor or schedule an appointment with a therapist to find out whether you are suffering from depression or anxiety, both of which can have negative impacts on your circulatory system.

Make sleep a priority. If you don’t get your recommended 7 to 9 hours a night, you may be hurting your heart. It’s not just too little sleep that can be damaging – too much sleep may also lead to health problems. If medications are to blame for sleeping too little or too much, talk to your doctor about switching to something else. Your doctor may also be able to recommend simple changes to your routine to help you get a good night’s sleep.

Take up a hobby. If you have trouble getting regular exercise, consider taking up an active hobby, like senior yoga, water aerobics, or going on nature walks. Not only can active hobbies be beneficial for your physical health and general wellbeing, but they can also be a great way to meet new friends.

Get a flu shot. While the flu doesn’t cause heart problems, the resulting inflammation can exacerbate preexisting coronary artery disease. In fact, recent research shows that the flu vaccine can reduce your risk of experiencing a major cardiac event in the next year by 36 percent.

Keeping tabs on your mental and physical health are essential to keeping your heart pumping strong. Life is full of unforeseen events – but planning ahead for them can help you manage anxiety and stay healthy. Life Care Funding can provide you and your loved ones with the resources and information you need to prepare for the unexpected. Contact us today to find out how we can help you life your golden years to the fullest.