How to Reduce the Risk of a Heart Attack

With heart disease more common than ever, people are looking for ways to reduce their chances of dying from a heart attack. While it is true that factor such as gender, age, or history of heart disease in the family cannot be changed, there are still plenty of things you can do to keep your heart healthy and live to a ripe old age.

Step 1

Get rid of those extra pounds. Carrying around extra body fat causes your heart to work harder. Being overweight can also lead to other health issues that place stress on the heart, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Step 2

Eat right. A diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables will go a long way toward giving you the nutrients you need, as well as plenty of fiber. At the same time, you'll also cut your intake of fat. When you do eat meats, make sure they are lean, and not saturated with a lot of fat.

Step 3

Get some type of exercise every day. A bike ride or a walk around the neighborhood is good for your heart, your weight, and for your peace of mind. Regular activity keeps the heart muscle in good working order, something that is essential if you want to live to a ripe old age.

Step 4

Dump the tobacco. Smoking provides nothing in the way of physical benefits to your body, and also throws your body chemistry out of whack. If that weren't enough, smoking tobacco increases your risk of heart disease.

Step 5

Monitor your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. You want your LDL or bad cholesterol to be under 130 at least, but less than 100 is really the goal. As for your HDL or good cholesterol, you want it to be over 60. Blood pressure should be in the range of 120/80 for most of us, and your blood sugar should be under 120 two hours after eating (under 140 for people with diabetes). Detecting any of these issues early on and taking action immediately will greatly reduce the chances for a heart attack.

Tips and Warnings

While it is impossible to completely avoid some risk for heart disease, you can do something to help yourself. Even if you've smoked for years or had a weight problem for a long time, don't assume that it's too late to start taking care of yourself. Overcoming these and other obstacles will soon decrease your risk of heart disease, and give you a better shot at having many more years to enjoy life.