How to Reduce Your Chances of Getting Heart Disease

Heart Disease is one of the most common causes of death among adults in the United States. Fortunately, there are many steps we can all take to reduce our chances of having a premature death because of a heart attack. Of course, we all hear stories about people who seem to have done "everything right" and they still die of a sudden heart attack. However, this is rarely the situation. Most of the people who have heart attacks die after years of abusing their bodies. It's almost as if some people are indifferent to their chances of having a heart attack. What are some of the kinds of behaviors that contribute to heart disease? What activities should we change in order to reduce our chances of having a heart attack?

Essentially, we all need to watch what we eat, quit smoking (and avoid smokers), get more exercise, and see our doctors about getting the proper medical interventions, if needed. Listed below are more specific details to help you live a heart healthy life.

It’s easy to make excuses for overeating. Over and over we justify weight gain by telling ourselves that we can allow ourselves a few treats because it is a special occasion. Unfortunately, we have special occasions all the time … Christmas, New Years, birthdays, trips, and dinner with friends. Good eating needs to become a habit.

Learn how to control your weight. I know it is hard! Personally, I have fought weight gain my entire life. However, even if you will never return to what you weighed when you were 25, at the very least you should try to exercise and watch what you eat so you don't gain an excessive amount of weight each year.

In addition to counting calories, be sure that what you do eat is healthy! Avoid all fried foods by switching to oven-baked, instead. Reduce your consumption of red meats like beef and pork. Eat more fruits and vegetables, and try to eat a nice salad made with dark greens at least 4-5 times a week!

The most important thing you can do for your overall health, including heart health, is to STOP SMOKING ... and don't start, if you haven't already! Many people assume that lung cancer is the disease most closely connected to smoking. However, smoking also affects your cardiovascular health. In other words, if smoking doesn’t cause a cancer that kills you, it will probably cause you to have cardiovascular disease, instead!

We all know that we should get a moderate amount of exercise each day. Exercise helps our heart in several ways. It may contribute to weight loss, which reduces the strain on your heart. It also will force the heart to pump more strongly, which exercises the heart.

You will find that advice about the amount of exercise you need varies greatly. At the very least, you should take a brisk 30 minute walk 5 times a week, and work out with weights at least 2 times a week. Do more of each, if you can!

A final step you should take is to see your doctor about controlling your blood pressure. For many people, that means using less salt. For others, you may need a medication. Your doctor will tell you what works best for you. In addition, your doctor will want to do blood work to check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is possible that you will need to be on a statin drug, or a similar medication. Follow his instructions carefully. Your life could depend on it. By following his instructions, you may increase not only the quantity of the life that you live, but also the quality!