Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. and is also an significant cause of disability. Heart disease can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the heart from functioning properly There are many different forms of heart disease these forms include Coronary Artery Disease also known as CAD, Angina, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, and Heart Arrhythmia. There are some things you can do to help prevent your risk of heart disease.

1. Follow a healthy diet. Consume less fatty foods especially ones high in trans fat these includes processed foods, fast foods, and animal fats. Consume more Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils you can add these oils by eating 2 servings of fish a week and/or adding flaxseed oil ga.essortment.com/whatisflaxsee_pfy.htm to your diet. Be sure to get your 5 serving of fresh fruits and vegetables a day. Also avoid empty calories that are found in things like soft drinks and hard candies. This link will teach you about empty calories. www.dietbites.com/diet-empty-calories.html

2. Maintain a healthy weight. Check with your doctor to determine what weight is healthy for you. You should also try to maintain a Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from about 20 to 27. You and your doctor can also decide which BMI is right for you and your body type.

3. If you smoke get help to quit and if you don't smoke don't stat. Not smoking is very important.

4. Get 30 to 45 minutes of exercise daily. Getting a proper cardiac workout is an excellent way to reduce your risk of heart disease. www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/exercise-healthy-heart

5. Have your cholesterol checked regularly. You should aim for a level of less than 200mg/dl www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml . If your cholesterol levels are high changing your diet and exercise routine should help, but if your levels still remain high after diet changes your doctor may prescribe a medication to help lower cholesterol.

6. Maintain a healthy blood pressure. A healthy blood pressure is a range of 120-135/70-80. A little salt in your diet is alright, but try not to add table salt to your food and avoid products with MSG. If your blood pressure is high and remains high even with diet changes your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure.

7. Drinking small amount of red wine (1 to 2) glasses per night can help prevent heart disease. ezinearticles.com/

8. Go for annual check ups. You should have a yearly annual exam to make sure you are not at risk of heart disease or any other chronic illnesses.

9. Try to reduce or avoid stress when and if possible. There are many methods for helping reduce stress. This includes breathing techniques, exercises, and just having fun. www.mindtools.com/smpage.html

10. Try an aspirin regimen. www.bayeraspirin.com/what/art.htm If you have high cholesterol, are over 45 years old, and have a family history of heart disease you could take aspirin on a daily basis to help reduce your risk of heart disease. Be sure to discuss starting an aspirin regimen with your physician before starting to make sure it is right and safe for you. An aspirin regimen may lead to serious risk with certain people.