Add a Healthy Heart to Your Summer To-Do Health List | AFC Urgent Care Memphis

The team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis wants you to remember that while paying attention to your skin is important this summer, another important organ you need to keep in mind is your heart. The following are ways to improve your heart health over the summer.

Summer Tips for a Healthy Heart

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer? If you were to ask your kids this question, more than likely they would respond with sleeping in, staying up late, or swimming and playing outside. And so on and so forth.

However, one thing that should get you excited about summer are all the things at your fingertips that can help you improve your heart health.

For example, with school out on break, the summer days often allow families to spend a little more time together than during the craziness of the remaining months of the year. Take advantage of the warmer weather to enjoy time being physically active with your loved ones—enjoy an afternoon of swimming, a bike ride or a walk. And when you finish, help your body (and your heart) by fueling up on fruits and vegetables that are packed with nutrients and the water you need to stay hydrated.

Hydration is extremely important to your health—and your heart. Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, occur more frequently during the summer months because the sun is extremely strong and our bodies are constantly sweating. Be sure to continually sip on water throughout the day to help ensure your body gets the fluids it needs to replenish the water you’re sweating out. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink—you could already be dehydrated at that point.

What’s a summer without a cookout or two? And with the 4th of July right around the corner, now’s as good a time as any to add some of these heart-healthy foods to your grilling list, including:

  • Potatoes
  • Bean patties
  • Corn on the cob
  • Fish
  • In-season veggies like zucchini

While you might not think about grilling fruits, grilling can release some powerful flavors! Try grilling peaches or pineapple to add a little extra punch to your meal.

Has a summer cold got you feeling under the weather? (Yes, a summer COLD!) AFC Urgent Care Memphis has a physician on staff seven days a week to help get you back to feeling your best.