Preventing Heart Disease

Are you steadily gaining weight as you eat more than you can burn off? On top of that, do you hate exercise and feel stress at work? If your answer is yes to either question, your risk of getting heart disease is two to four times higher than a normal healthy person. For the sake of your heart and well being, you need to take action quickly to reduce the risk.

Here are five steps that you can take to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

1. Assess your risk level. If you have a

family member with cardiovascular risk,

your risk of getting heart disease will

be higher. If you are a diabetic, your

risk is also higher as high blood sugar

levels are frequently associated with

narrowing of blood vessels. If you are

40 or older, your risk will also increase

considerably. The same goes for

smokers. A cigarette a day has a

dramatic reduction in your

cardiovascular health in the long run.

2. Make positive changes to your diet.

Your diet has a huge impact on your

cardiovascular health. Limit your intake

of foods with high calories or high sugar

content. Reduce your intake of salt to less than six grams a day. At the same time, you should consume a variety of whole grain products, vegetables and fruits. You should also drink more water to flush toxins from your body.

3. Start an exercise program. If your lifestyle is primarily sedentary, your cardiovascular health is unlikely to be in optimum. You should engage in some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes three to four times a week. Activities such as brisk walking, slow jogging, cycling and inline skating are very beneficial to your heart. Swimming is another excellent choice as it is a low impact exercise that works on your whole body and can do wonders for your heart.

4. Develop healthy stress relief habits. Stress is a major contributor to heart disease as it increases your blood pressure. There are many people who are stressed out without realizing it. Take time off each day to engage in activities that relax your mind and body. This can be listening to classical music, yoga workout or meditation. In fact, it can be as simple as reading a book you love. It is advisable to engage in stress relief activities on a daily basis.

5. Take note of these warning symptoms. The burning sensation in your chest may be an indication of an impending heart attack. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the neck, jaw and chest area. Consult a doctor before these symptoms get worse.

Heart disease is a major cause of death in many developed countries. You can help to reduce the risk by following a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. Learning more about the various heart disease symptoms and other prevention methods can also help you to win the battle against heart diseases.

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