As we get older, men and women are at an increased risk for heart attacks. Here are some tips for keeping yourself healthy in the years to come.

It’s a well-known fact that heart disease is a leading cause of death among American men.

 

But did you know that heart attacks are a leading cause of death for American women, too? In fact, more women die each year from heart failure than men do.

 

That’s why, no matter who you are, it’s important to prioritize your heart health. Read ahead for three “heart-helpful” tips that may help to decrease your risk for heart failure.

1. Take aspirin before bed

Many people take an aspirin or baby aspirin once a day to safeguard the health of their heart. As a blood thinner, aspirin can help to prevent blood platelets from clumping and clotting.

 

Because most heart attacks happen in the morning between the hours of 6 AM and noon, it’s best to take aspirin before you go to bed. Aspirin has a 24-hour half-life, so you’ll benefit from its effects during the hours in which most heart attacks occur.

 

2. Drink water before bed

Many folks refrain from drinking at bedtime to avoid needing to get up during the night. But cardiologists advise differently. A glass of water before sleeping can help to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. A study in the American Journal of Medical Epidemiology found that participants who drink five or more glasses of plain water per day have a lower risk for fatal coronary heart disease, compared to those who drink less than two glasses per day. Like with aspirin, drinking water before bed helps improve circulation during the hours when you're statistically at the greatest risk for a heart attack.

 

3. Do the basics: Eat smart, stop smoking, exercise

Let’s face it: you’ve probably heard this advice before– but it bears repeating! Heart health begins with a healthy lifestyle. The American Heart Association offers the following checklist of simple lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of a heart attack in the future:

 

Bonus tip: Get your hearing assessed by a professional

Recent studies have suggested that a connection exists between cardiovascular disease and an increased risk for hearing loss.¹ More research is needed, but it’s possible that cardiovascular disease may restrict blood flow to the ears and contribute to hearing loss.

 

That's why you should have your heart checked regularly by a medical professional, as well as make a hearing assessment a routine part of your annual health screenings. Your Beltone hearing care professional will assess your hearing and determine whether the cause of your hearing loss is related to a serious underlying condition.

 

¹Research study detailed here.