"It's like finding the fountain of youth," says Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. It measures the amount of pressure flowing through your arteries with every heartbeat.If your blood pressure gets too high, the extra force can damage artery walls and create scar tissue. Use this shopping list to find heart-healthy foods.

Don’t sit for too long at one time. Over time, breathing in particulates (tiny particles that float in polluted air) can increase your risk of blood clots, raise your blood pressure, cause inflammation in your blood vessels, harden your arteries and lead to an irregular heartbeat — all of which can elevate your chances of heart attack and stroke, according to the So, how can you protect your ticker?

But what else can you do to keep your ticker going strong?

Most of us know that the heart is a muscle, but it is easy to ignore what that means for heart health. Leaf Group Ltd.

Eat healthy, exercise regularly and don't smoke — these are the tried-and-true ways to keep your ticker in tip-top shape. These changes are often enough to bring your blood pressure back down into the normal range. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.

1. Think again!

That's likely because pooches need to be walked, so their owners are inclined to be more physically active, logging a greater number of steps each day. Obesity increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and low levels of good HDL cholesterol. Heart-healthy items include high-fiber foods (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) and certain fats (like the fats in olive oil and fish).

So let’s get started. The next time you're tempted to stay up later than you should, remember how comfy that pillow will feel and how good a full night's sleep is for your heart.In one study, young and middle-age adults who slept 7 hours a night had less calcium in their arteries (an early sign of heart disease) than those who slept 5 hours or less or those who slept 9 hours or more.The type of shut-eye they got was important, too. If you can't do all 30 minutes at once, do 10 minutes at a time. Kaiser Permanente offers tips on For more tips to keep your heart healthy, check out these Kaiser Permanente cardiac surgeon repairs Heather Westmoreland's life-threaten …Five Colorado school districts awarded $1.5 million in Thriving Schools …Working together with our members, patients, communities, employees, and …Kaiser Permanente Hawaii hospital receives American Heart Association quality …Remote patient monitoring technology helps to improve outcomes and brings …Kaiser Permanente hosted industry experts to discuss the importance and …Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center honored as “high performing” …Learning to breastfeed can take patience and persistence. "Laughing is associated with improved vascular function and lower blood pressure, plus studies suggest that laughter can reduce artery inflammation, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and Managing stress is particularly important when it comes to heart health. But what else can you do to keep your ticker going strong?

If it can't get enough oxygen, parts can start to die.

Even the reports revealed that the Olympic swimmers and medalists are the ones with the most strong and healthy heart.

That’s why it’s never too late to quit. How to Keep Your Heart Healthy and Strong A few decades ago it was rare to see young people suffering with heart ailments. Nobody likes to hear the word “diet.” But a heart-healthy diet is especially important as you age.

However, a recent report by the WHO states that cardiovascular diseases would be the largest cause of death and disability in India by 2020. Even if you improve just one or two of these areas, you can make yourself less likely to get heart disease.

If you’re 40 or older, or if you have high blood pressure, check it every year.Cut back on salt, limit alcohol to no more than one to two drinks a day, favor healthy eating habits (think fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein) manage your stress, and work out.

For a healthier heart, get more laughter in your life.