It may not be your first thought when you wake up in the morning, but looking after your heart is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.

As one of the body’s five vital organs, the heart ensures blood flows around the body, delivering oxygen, nutrients and hormones and carrying away the waste products of metabolism. However, when the heart’s health is compromised, this blood flow is also affected and has a knock-on effect on other areas of the body.

Of all the factors contributing to heart health, two of the most significant are blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Having high levels of either can spell bad news for your heart, as they can affect the function of blood vessels and arteries. High blood pressure, for example, can damage your arteries and blood vessels by making them less elastic, reducing blood flow. And high cholesterol levels can lead to fatty deposits building on the walls of the arteries, leading to narrowing and potential blockages.

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