How to Have a Normal Heart Function With Blocked Arteries

When your arteries narrow and become blocked, they will inevitably begin to take a toll on your heart. Blocked arteries can deprive your heart of oxygen and affect the way it functions. When you suffer from this condition, often referred to as a hardening of the arteries, there are a number of things you can do to help ensure you have a normal heart function.

Things You'll Need

• Well-balanced diet
• Exercise regimen
• Prescription medication

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Instructions

• 1

  Change your diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, changing your diet should really be one of the first things you do when you experience a narrowing of the arteries. By reducing your sodium, fat and LDL cholesterol and increasing your fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you effectively increase the health of your heart, and therefore improve its function.

• 2

  Start exercising. Another effective method of improving the health and function of your heart is to exercise every day. All you really need is 30 to 60 minutes of exercise. You'll improve your circulation and can even prompt, according to the Mayo Clinic, the formation of new blood vessels that act as an almost natural bypass around the blockages you may be experiencing in your arteries.

• 3

  Lose some weight. By keeping yourself at a healthy weight, you can often slow or even prevent further narrowing of the arteries. The loss of weight often goes hand-in-hand with both diet and exercise.

• 4

  Talk to your doctor about your medication options. When your arteries narrow and become blocked, it usually is due to some sort of medical condition, be it diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol. Your doctor can prescribe anticoagulants, blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications or anti-platelet drugs that can help treat the condition causing the blockage.

• 5

  Quit smoking. If you're a smoker and are suffering from a narrowing or blockage of an artery, you should really consider quitting this unhealthy habit. Smoking can seriously damage your arteries. By quitting, you can often stop or lessen the narrowing you are experiencing.

• 6

  Manage your level of stress. Managing your stress, no matter what your level of health, is a truly great practice to start abiding by. It can reduce the pressure you place on the heart and keep its function and health optimal.