Your family and co-workers may never know, but steps you take now could save a life — your life. That would definitely make you their hero.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say heart disease is often preventable. Their recommendations include:
Don't smoke or use tobacco products. Smoking is the most powerful risk factor for heart disease. No amount of smoke is safe. Women who smoke and take birth control pills are at even greater risk, especially after age 35.
Exercise. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of a fatal heart attack by nearly a quarter. Exercise also reduces stress, another significant risk factor. Though federal guidelines call for up to 60 minutes of exercise a day, even small amounts of exercise can help.
Control cholesterol and eat a heart-healthy diet. Saturated fat and trans fats raise blood cholesterol levels and increase cardiovascular disease risk. Cholesterol is particularly worrisome because foods containing this type of fat are common in the American diet. Major sources include beef, butter, cheese, milk, and coconut and palm oils.
The American Heart Association can help you calculate your cholesterol intake and give important advice on how to control it. Visit cholesterollowdown.org to see how to lower your cholesterol.
Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a heart-healthy diet. They help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Maintain a healthy weight. Weight gain as an adult is mostly fatty tissue, and is a risk factor for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
Get regular health screenings. Healthy adults should have cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked every two years, or more often if their numbers are high.
A heart-healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be complicated. Just find ways to put heart-healthy habits into your life.