How Cardiovascular Health Protects Your Brain

Your heart, arteries and blood vessels make up your cardiovascular system, and good cardiovascular health is essential to good overall health. It’s especially important in keeping your brain safe and sound.

“The heart and brain are part of the same plumbing system,” says Dr. Gabriella Tosto-D’Antonio, chief nurse practitioner in Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Every heartbeat delivers oxygen and nutrients essential for cognition and other functions.”

In this blog, you’ll learn how cardiovascular health influences your brain and a few strategies to protect both.

The Link Between Cardiovascular Health and Your Brain

Every day, your heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood throughout your body, according to the American Heart Association. Dr. Tosto-D’Antonio says that between 15 and 20 percent of that blood goes to your brain.

If narrowed arteries or a weak heart muscle limit blood flow to and in your brain, brain tissue may die. This can cause memory loss and other cognitive decline.

These problems can arise with any cardiovascular disease, including:

• Coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease)
• Heart failure
• Stroke or heart attack

Common Risk Factors for Your Brain and Heart

“Each cardiovascular risk factor increases your cognitive decline,” Dr. Tosto-D’Antonio says, “and brain changes begin 20 years prior to symptom starting.”

In other words, if it’s bad for your heart, it’s bad for your brain. This includes risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as:

• Diabetes and other chronic health conditions
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Unhealthy diet

All of these can lead to hardened, narrowed arteries, making it harder for your heart to pump blood, oxygen and nutrients to your brain.

Strategies to Improve Cardiovascular Health

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to improve your cardiovascular health and protect your brain at the same time.

Get started with these tips.

• Avoid tobacco. Don’t smoke cigarettes. If you already do, sign up for a smoking cessation program.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet. Choose lean protein sources, lots of fruits and vegetables and other unprocessed foods.
• Exercise regularly. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week.
• Manage stress in healthy ways. Practice deep-breathing techniques or meditation.
• Sleep well. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, and get at least seven hours of shut-eye each night, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Key Takeaways About Cardiovascular Health

Understanding the connection between cardiovascular health and the brain empowers you to make better decisions that improve your overall health.

1. Up to 20 percent of your body’s blood flow feeds your brain. Cardiovascular disease reduces blood flow to the brain and puts your brain at risk of complications.
2. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and other factors increase your risk for cardiovascular and brain issues.
3. You can help your brain and heart stay strong by making healthy choices, such as exercising regularly and getting good sleep.

Are you ready to take control of your brain and cardiovascular health? Find a doctor at Weill Cornell Medicine to get started.