Way to Happy Life & Healthy Heart

Cardiovascular disease or CVD is caused by disorders of the heart and the blood vessels. It includes heart attacks, stroke, increased blood pressure or hyper tension, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure. The major causes of this disease are tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.

CVDs are the number one killer of humanity. How to prevent the Cardiovascular Diseases? Most of the cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by eliminating the risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes and raised lipids. The cardiovascular risk can be reduced by reducing salt in the diet, increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, undertaking a regular physical activity such as walking, cycling, jogging etc, avoiding alcohol & tobacco, treating hypertension, diabetes, and taking sufficient steps to reduce blood cholesterol level.

These are the measures that can be taken at the physiological level. We need to develop all-round measures to prevent and to treat CVDs. Firstly, we should develop certain qualities in us which will protect our heart. Negative emotions such as anger, hostility, jealousy, and depression are the risk factors of heart attack. Happiness, contentment, enthusiasm and positivity will protect our heart.

Happiness, positive attitude towards life, and contentment will create a positive effect in our life and also to our heart. While the negative emotions such as anger and hostility will create a negative effect in our life and to our heart.  Lead researcher Katrina Davidson says that the negative emotions are predictive of heart diseases & positive emotions protect heart.

Happy people lead a calm life, eat better, sleep better, get more exercise, and smoke less.  Hence, lower is the risk of CVD. Happiness is a state of mind and has enormous physiological impact on our body. Happiness produces lot of chemical changes and reduces stress hormones that are not good for the heart. On the contrary, unhappiness increases the production of stress hormones which increases cardio vascular risk. The stress hormones hamper proper digestion & circulation that results in irregular breathing and irregular heart beat. The stress hormones create a load on the heart and prevent its proper functioning and increases cardio vascular risk.

Since, happiness or unhappiness is the state of mind, the chemistry behind it is as follows: Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine is a hormone in the pineal gland, in the digestive tract, the central nervous system, and blood platelets. The molecular formula of serotonin is C₁₀H₁₂N₂O. It is popularly thought to be a contributor to feelings of well-being and happiness. Endorphins are the hormones produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus during exercise. Both the hormones are essential for being happy. Endorphins are hormones that work with the endocrine system and released in our bodies.

Serotonin and Endorphin go hand in hand in controlling and affecting our mood. Serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter, while Endorphins are hormones that work with the endocrine system and released in our bodies. An imbalance in serotonin levels would have negative outcomes. When serotonin and endorphins are released, the stress hormones would decrease and one’s happy mood would increase.

How to be happy always?

No one can be happy always. But we can develop certain positive and good qualities that will create happiness in us. They are:

•  Express gratitude on a regular basis.
•  Practice optimism and positive outlook.
•  Engage in frequent acts of kindness.
•  Visualize one's best self.
•  Savor joyful events.
•  Practice forgiveness.
• Exercise regularly.

Simple exercises like walking, swimming, and cycling are good in decreasing stress hormones and are helpful in increasing the level of endorphins. Good workout helps one look good, keep fit and the body healthy. Being happy keeps our heart in stress free condition and ensures healthy heart.

So, work towards leading a happy life. Happiness in life results in healthy heart. In other words, happy lifestyle promotes “Heart Healthy Life”. Heart Healthy Life increases disease free and long life.  The recipe for Healthy Heart is Happiness.

Be Happy!           Be Heart Happy!!        Stay Healthy!!!

Live long with a Happy, Healthy, Friendly Heart!!!